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Tuesday, July 26, 2005China's Ministry of Health has blamed a pig bacteria for a mysterious disease that has killed 19 people in a southwest province and made 61 ill, the China Daily reported on Tuesday. Laboratory tests showed the affected people were suffering from streptococcus suis infections contracted from the slaughtering or handling of infected pigs, the ministry said on Monday. The bacteria is endemic in swine in most pig-rearing countries in the world but human infections are rare. Initially, 20 farm workers suffered fever, nausea and haemorrhaging after handling sick or dead pigs and sheep in 12 towns and 15 villages in Sichuan province, state media said. More cases were reported as health workers combed villages for ill people. Streptococcus suis is a pig bacteria, usually transmitted to people only by handling infected dead pig carcasses. No need to worry, unless you slaughter pigs for a living ( or a hobby). posted by Sydney on 7/26/2005 07:08:00 AM 0 comments 0 Comments: |
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