Pet-borne worm infections explode

"There are many diseases transmitted by parasites and insects due to eating raw food, salads, blood pudding, and uncooked hydroponic vegetables. In particular, some newly emerging diseases with increased cases include: infection with tapeworms and roundworm larvae in dogs and cats due to keeping pets."

Bùng nổ ca bệnh nhiễm giun lây từ thú cưng- Ảnh 1. — Hugging pets can easily cause them to swallow dog and cat worm eggs.

The above information was announced by Dr. Hoang Dinh Canh, Director of the National Institute of Malaria, Parasitology and Entomology (NIMPE), Ministry of Health, today, March 27, at the interdisciplinary online conference to strengthen the prevention and control of diseases transmitted from animals to humans by 2024. The conference was organized by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

"Cases of roundworm infections in cats and dogs are exploding, especially due to keeping pets and frequently cuddling them. When hugging or sleeping with pets, owners can easily swallow roundworm eggs," Mr. Canh warned.

In humans, roundworm eggs cannot develop into worms but remain in the form of larvae. These larvae travel to the lungs, brain, liver, etc., especially causing itching of the skin.

At Dang Van Ngu Hospital (under NIMPE), a specialized hospital for the treatment of parasitic and insect diseases, 15,527 patients were treated for roundworm infections in dogs and cats in 2023. It is estimated that 30,000 people nationwide are infected with roundworm infections in dogs and cats at medical facilities across the country.

Dog and cat roundworms (toxocara canis) lay eggs on their hosts (living in the intestines of dogs and cats). The eggs are released into the environment through feces and can be swallowed by people due to poor personal hygiene or by cuddling pets.

After swallowing eggs into the body, the worm larvae will penetrate the intestinal wall and travel through the bloodstream to the liver, lungs, and nervous system.

Mr. Canh also noted that Vietnam has many people infected with small liver flukes, in some places 65% of the population is infected with small liver flukes, especially in localities with the habit of eating raw or raw food. It is estimated that each year 1 million people are infected with this fluke. Currently, liver flukes have been recorded in 32 provinces and cities.

At Dang Van Ngu Hospital, many people were diagnosed with brain, liver, and lung tumors and cancers, but the exact cause was a nest of worm larvae.

According to the recommendations of the Central Institute of Malaria, Parasitology and Entomology, to prevent worm infection, people need to eat cooked food, not raw food. For pet owners, it is necessary to deworm their pets and especially manage their feces well, because this is a source of roundworm eggs. If hygiene is not clean, pet owners are very susceptible to worm egg infection.

Source link