Health warning issued over parasitic infection

THE HSE and animal experts have issued a warning about the health risks surrounding the potentially serious infection toxoplasmosis.

Those at risk of contracting the infection include pet owners, farmers, vets, animal handlers and anyone who handles food. Toxoplasmosis is caused by a tiny parasite, the toxoplasma gondii.

HSE public health medicine specialist Dr Ann Marie O’Byrne said while the parasite is harmless to most healthy adults and children, it can cause illness in people with underdeveloped or weakened immune systems.

If a pregnant woman becomes infected “there is a risk the baby will become infected. Infection of the unborn child can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, brain or eye defects. The symptoms are vague and include fatigue, headache, sore throat, aching muscles and sometimes fever,” said Dr O’Byrne, who is also a member of the South East Zoonoses Committee.

She advised anyone who is pregnant or has a compromised immune system should take the following precautions:

* Ensure meat is thoroughly cooked with no trace of pinkness.

* Avoid unpasteurised milk and unpasteurised milk products.

* Wash fruit and vegetables before eating.

* Wash hands, cooking utensils and work surfaces in warm soapy water after handling raw meat.

* Avoid handling cat litter or, if this task cannot be avoided, wear rubber gloves and wash hands afterwards. Cat litter should be changed daily as the parasite does not become infectious until 1 to 5 days after it is shed in faeces.

* Cover children’s outdoor sandboxes to prevent cats from using them.

* Wear gloves when gardening and wash hands afterwards.

* Avoid contact with sheep at lambing time.

* Avoid handling clothing used by those handling lambing ewes and newborn lambs.