How to prevent and control Streptococcus suis? Knowledge Q&A Part 3
Q: Can humans be infected with Streptococcus suis disease, and how can it be prevented?
A: Humans can indeed be infected with pathogenic Streptococcus suis. Streptococcus suis type 2 can cause meningitis, septicemia, endocarditis, and even death in humans. Looking at the routes of human infection with Streptococcus suis disease, a fact of great warning significance is that all infected patients had contact with sick pigs or dead pigs, and most patients had wounds on their hands or other body parts. It is not the case that anyone who slaughters or washes pork will become infected with Streptococcus suis and develop the disease. This provides us with an important direction for the scientific prevention and control of Streptococcus suis disease. As long as our prevention and control measures are appropriate and effective, Streptococcus suis disease is not frightening. As long as we follow the principles of "do not sell, do not slaughter, do not purchase, do not consume dead pigs," the transmission of Streptococcus suis disease to humans can be very effectively prevented.
For ordinary residents, do not purchase or process dead pigs and internal organs from pigs suffering from Streptococcus suis disease. Pork should be purchased from legitimate trading markets or supermarkets, and livestock products that have undergone animal quarantine inspection should be purchased.
As a good household habit, after cutting raw pork and internal organs each time, all knives and other utensils that have come into contact with fresh meat should be cleaned and disinfected.
Anyone who has been directly infected with Streptococcus suis disease, such as experiencing symptoms like chills and fever, should immediately go to the hospital to receive diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible. It is especially important that patients proactively remind doctors of their recent contact with sick (dead) pigs or their products and other relevant information. This point is extremely important, as it can avoid misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis and treatment, and allow timely selection of appropriate antibiotic treatment. This can greatly improve the treatment outcomes for human infection with Streptococcus suis disease.
Q: Is Streptococcus suis disease frightening?
A: Streptococcus suis disease is not frightening. First, this is not a new or strange disease; over the past decades, there have been reports of its occurrence both domestically and abroad. Second, this disease has effective methods and measures for prevention and treatment, and is preventable and curable. Third, no cases have been found to date where this disease was directly transmitted from a patient to people around them. Moreover, even in epidemic areas where Streptococcus suis disease is prevalent, ordinary people will not easily become infected and develop the disease unless they have direct contact with dead pigs or their internal organs and other infectious materials.
Q: Can pork be eaten in areas where an outbreak has occurred? ⟧11⟧ A: Since it is now reported that humans can be infected with Streptococcus suis disease, many people have begun to worry about eating pork and have even developed a sense of fear. In fact, human infection and death cases are only relatively concentrated individual cases, and there is no need for excessive worry and anxiety. Scientific research shows that the Streptococcus suis pathogen can only survive for 10 minutes in water at 60°C. If pork is thoroughly cooked before eating, there will be no problem. Moreover, pork bought from legitimate markets has all undergone quarantine inspection by animal health departments. Therefore, even in areas where an outbreak has occurred, pork can absolutely be eaten, and infection will not occur from eating meat. Furthermore, once an outbreak occurs in an area, the quarantine and supervision measures taken by governments at all levels and relevant functional departments are stricter than at any other time, so the general public has even less reason to have too many concerns.
Answer: Since it is now reported that humans can be infected with Streptococcus suis, many people have begun to worry about eating pork, and some have even become fearful. In fact, the human deaths from infection are only relatively concentrated individual cases, and there is no need for everyone to be overly worried or anxious. Scientific research shows that the Streptococcus suis pathogen can survive in 60°C water for only 10 minutes, so if pork is cooked thoroughly before eating, there will be no problem. Moreover, pork bought from regular markets has all been inspected and quarantined by the animal health department. Therefore, even in areas where an outbreak has occurred, pork can absolutely be eaten, and people will not become infected from eating meat. What is more, once an outbreak occurs in an area, the inspection and supervision measures taken by governments at all levels and relevant functional departments are stricter than at any other time, so the general public certainly has even less reason to worry too much.