Take pig precautions when cooking pork meat

When cooking pork products it is crucial you cook them enough to get rid of any signs of pink. George F Winter explains how you can run the risk of contracting the hepatitis E virus

Many people are familiar with hepatitis viruses A, B and C; but hepatitis E – officially named as such in 1990 - is relatively unknown. For example, a report in the British Medical Journal (12 November, 2014) quoted hepatitis E expert and consultant gastroenterologist at the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust Dr Harry Dalton as saying that of 122 cases of acute hepatitis E infection he had treated, not a single patient had ever heard of it before diagnosis.

HEV is widespread among pigs. For example, Irish researchers reported in the Irish Veterinary Journal last year that they had detected HEV antibodies in 27% of 330 pigs tested, concluding: ‘Hepatitis E virus is present in most Irish pig herds and in many animals within these herds.’ In the UK, the prevalence of HEV antibodies in pig herds is estimated at 85%.