A new study in Germany points out the dangers arising from direct contact with pigs; in this case, Hepatitis E.
We have been warning of this particular risk for years. You can reach many articles by searching for "Hepatitis" in the search box above
It was not difficult. All we had to do was plot human cases, when known, with a map. In Britain, the giveaway was the location of the National Health Service Authorities investigating HEV or Hepatitis E in humans. They were in the pig farming areas of England.
Also, the biggest single attraction on this blog are the articles dealing with HEV and pigs. They have been heavily accessed for years, especially, but far from exclusively, from Central and Eastern Europe.
Yet another livestock zoonosis, a disease shared by humans and animals and killing humans, is neglected in Britain. Veterinarians and pig farmers, and their contacts, are clearly at serious risk.
The new report can be reached via the Springer site here.
April 2014
Seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in humans living in high pig density areas of Germany
Purchase on Springer.com
Abstract
...This study demonstrates that in addition to the consumption of raw or undercooked meat, direct contact to pigs has to be considered as an additional risk factor for HEV infection.
