Campylobacter testing suspended
The agriculture ministry has a shortage of reagents to run tests for an infectious bacterial disease known as Campylobacteriosis.
Campylobacter bacteria can get into your system if you eat undercooked poultry or you eat food that has touched raw or undercooked poultry.
The bacteria usually live in the digestive systems of animals, including poultry and cattle. Unpasteurised milk can also contain Campylobacter bacteria.
The director of veterinary services in the agriculture ministry, Dr Milton Masheke, said the Central Veterinary Laboratory was running short of specific reagents necessary for Campylobacter polymerase chain reaction testing. Tests were suspended temporarily on 7 May until reagents can be obtained.
“In the meantime, it is advised to use other alternatives,” said Masheke.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Campylobacter species are widely distributed in most warm-blooded animals. They are prevalent in food animals such as poultry, cattle, pigs, sheep and ostriches; and in pets, including cats and dogs. The bacteria have also been found in shellfish.
The main route of transmission is generally believed to be foodborne, via undercooked meat and raw or contaminated milk. Contaminated water or ice is also a source of infection. A number of cases occur following contact with contaminated water during recreational activities.
The typical symptoms include nausea and diarrhoea. The diarrhoea can sometimes be bloody. People may also have stomach pains and develop a fever. Symptoms tend to come on within two to five days of eating the contaminated food or of being in contact with the contaminated animals.
According to the WHO, death from campylobacteriosis is rare and is usually confined to very young children or elderly patients, or to those already suffering from another serious disease such as Aids. Complications such as presence of bacteria in the blood, hepatitis, infections of the liver and pancreas and miscarriage have been reported with various degrees of frequency.
Campylobacter bacteria can get into your system if you eat undercooked poultry or you eat food that has touched raw or undercooked poultry.
The bacteria usually live in the digestive systems of animals, including poultry and cattle. Unpasteurised milk can also contain Campylobacter bacteria.
The director of veterinary services in the agriculture ministry, Dr Milton Masheke, said the Central Veterinary Laboratory was running short of specific reagents necessary for Campylobacter polymerase chain reaction testing. Tests were suspended temporarily on 7 May until reagents can be obtained.
“In the meantime, it is advised to use other alternatives,” said Masheke.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Campylobacter species are widely distributed in most warm-blooded animals. They are prevalent in food animals such as poultry, cattle, pigs, sheep and ostriches; and in pets, including cats and dogs. The bacteria have also been found in shellfish.
The main route of transmission is generally believed to be foodborne, via undercooked meat and raw or contaminated milk. Contaminated water or ice is also a source of infection. A number of cases occur following contact with contaminated water during recreational activities.
The typical symptoms include nausea and diarrhoea. The diarrhoea can sometimes be bloody. People may also have stomach pains and develop a fever. Symptoms tend to come on within two to five days of eating the contaminated food or of being in contact with the contaminated animals.
According to the WHO, death from campylobacteriosis is rare and is usually confined to very young children or elderly patients, or to those already suffering from another serious disease such as Aids. Complications such as presence of bacteria in the blood, hepatitis, infections of the liver and pancreas and miscarriage have been reported with various degrees of frequency.
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