Listeriosis: What you Need to Know

Hi guys, I want to share on something very important that could be life saving. I was just surfing the internet and I came across this title ' FOUR DAYS, FOURTEEN DEATHS'. This news article was actually describing the severity of the Listeriosis outbreak in South Africa and I feel everybody needs to know about this infection and what to do to stay safe.

What is Listeriosis?
Listeriosis is an infection that is caused by a bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes. Well this is the common species known to cause infection in humans eventhough some others have been found in some cases.
This organism is found everywhere in nature but mainly in the soil and water sources.

How can it be contracted?
This infection is food-borne. That is to say, we get the infection by eating foods that have loads of this organism in it.
There is no specific food that carries the organism but the following have been associated with the organism;

1. Raw Vegetables and fruits.
2. Raw or undercooked meat.
3. Unpasteurized milk or foods made from unpasteurised milk.

What symptoms to lookout for?

1. Fever
2. Muscle aches
3. Nausea and vomiting
4. Diarrhoea
   In people with low immunity, the organism may get into the Central nervous system and cause headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance or convulsions.

How can I stay safe?

1. Good hand washing techniques

1. Keeping your food preparation areas clean is of essence
   
2. Avoid unpasteurized milk and its products.
3. Cooking and serving your foods at the appropriate temperatures.
4. Avoid mixing cooked and raw foods in refrigerators. Store them separately.

I hope these few strategies help keep us all safe.
Good health is necessary for a good life. Stay healthy.