What parasites can you encounter in your food while traveling?
Professor Sarah Gabriel: “Parasites can be found everywhere: for example, the fox tapeworm and beef in our area, trichinella in the far north, and trematodes, also called boneworms, in raw fish in Asia. In any case, you have to be careful everywhere, because we cannot rule out that some destinations are free of parasites.
a An important parasite to consider is the pork tapeworm.. And it has the greatest impact on a global level. If you travel to the European Union, you don’t have to worry about it. Especially in the global south, we see that this parasite can cause serious health problems. In sub-Saharan Africa, for example, this infection is responsible for a large proportion of epilepsy cases in humans.
What are the symptoms if I get pork tapeworm?
“In one Infection after eating contaminated meat– You get a long tapeworm in your intestine that releases eggs. If these eggs hatch, they develop into larvae that can nest in your body. They prefer to live in our brains, where they can cause seizures. There is a high risk, especially in rural areas of countries like Tanzania, but contaminated meat can also occur in urban areas.
This is mainly about eating meat. Are you safe as a vegetarian?
Unfortunately not. Vegetarians can also get parasites. Through contaminated vegetables, fruits, water or surfaces. Parasites can have different growth stages that occur in the environment, not just in meat or fish.
Do you advise people not to eat certain things while traveling?
“Yes, especially in the Global South, I advise people not to eat pork. Make sure to eat more No raw meat or raw fish.It is preferable to eat cooked vegetables and drink water from bottles rather than from the tap. Also be careful with fruit. For example, sometimes, after eating a meal, you get fruit that is already cut into pieces. In fact, it is better to leave it alone.
My advice is to buy a piece of fruit and prepare it yourself. Wash it with clean water, and if necessary with bottled water. Cut it with a clean knife and clean hands. This is how you can Enjoy this delicious fruit in a safe way..Because this remains important: Above all, enjoy it. Your immune system can handle anything.”
But prevention is still better than cure. What can you do to protect yourself?
“Antibiotics or vaccines do not help against parasites.The only thing that works is prevention: general hygiene. Wash your hands before eating, and not just before lunch or dinner, but also after eating a piece of fruit or a cookie. And we still do it too little.
For the rest, the general advice applies: Cook it, boil it, peel it, or forget it. (Prepare, cook, peel or not eat, ed.). You can also go there to eat meat and fish. Freeze it (Freezing) For fruits and vegetables, wash itBut make sure to do it with clean water.
Don’t just take stray dogs with you when you travel.This is certainly not a good idea for diseases like rabies, but it is not a good idea for parasites either. Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after touching any animal.
What symptoms can you get and what should you do?
“If you develop symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, muscle aches, or fever… see a doctor. Mention that you were outside so they can see if you have a parasitic infection. You can also Consider visiting the Tropical Medicine Department.such as UZGent or the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp.
