Thread by @mmnjug

The Veterinary Department is warning Kenyans over pork contaminated with epilepsy-causing tapeworms in Nairobi and surrounding areas. - StdKE

The Vet department is especially concerned over what it says is a growing habit at ‘pork joints’ where patrons are consuming poorly cooked pork chased down with alcohol.

The contamination was detected at one of the largest private abattoirs in Nairobi which purchases pigs regionally and distributes pork widely in Kenya. - Vet Dept.

The investigated abattoir slaughters approximately 60 to 90 pigs a day with more than half supplied to a wholesale meat market in Nairobi’s central business district, from where it is extensively distributed across the county.

During the study period, 70% of the pork was distributed within Nairobi County, with the remaining proportion distributed to Nakuru, Kajiado, Narok, Lakipia and Kwale counties. - Vet Dept.

The study published last month in the journal Parasite Epidemiology and Control also involved:

International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi
University of Edinburgh, UK
University of London, UK
University of Nairobi
Maseno University
University of Liverpool, UK

The team had tested 700 pigs slaughtered at the facility and which had been sourced from 11 different counties. Majority of the pigs came from Kiambu and Nairobi counties at 59.7% and 22.7% respectively.

61 pig samples tested positive for the tape worm; Taenia spp. with the highest prevalence being found in pigs coming from Western counties and the lowest prevalence from Nairobi.

A strain of these tapeworms: Taenia solium found in pig causes neurocysticercosis, a brain infection in humans and the leading cause of acquired epilepsy.

The researchers warn that currently there is no simple method of riding pork of the tapeworm such as freezing, salting or pickling. The only way out is proper cooking.

The highest prevalence of tapeworms was identified in pigs coming from Western mainly because of the free range scavenging method of pig-keeping.
These systems increase risk of exposure to tapeworms due to pigs scavenging in all sorts of unsanitary conditions including in sewers

On the other had the lowest contamination was recorded in pigs sourced from Nairobi where most are reared in confinement.

ut still the researchers were concerned over high concentrations of tapeworms in pigs sourced from Kiambu County. Many pig farmers in Kiambu practise a semi-intensive production system and the researchers want it studied further to establish good hygiene practices.

The Veterinary Dept warns about the pork being sold in Nairobi and elsewhere being contaminated with epilepsy-causing tapeworms in a study published in the journal of Parasite Epidemiology and Control. bit.ly/2Y1RyDw