Trichinosis
Trichinosis is a foodborne disease caused by a tiny parasitic worm, Trichinella
spiralis. Animals such as pigs, cats, rats, and many wild animals including fox,
wolf, boar, and bear harbor the parasite in their muscle tissue. The worm
is spread when infected animal flesh is ingested by other animals.
Historically, pork products were the most commonly implicated source
of infection, but now commercially raised domestic pork poses a low
risk. However, eating undercooked wild game, particularly carnivores,
puts one at risk for trichinosis.
Anyone who eats undercooked meat of infected animals can
develop trichinosis.
Person to person spread does not
occur.
General information
Trichinosis
fact sheet (PDF, 350 KB)
Information for health professionals
This is a Wisconsin Disease Surveillance Category II disease:
Report to
the patient's local public health department electronically, through the Wisconsin
Electronic Disease Surveillance System
(WEDSS), by mail or fax using an Acute and Communicable Disease Case
Report F44151 (PDF,
167 KB) or by other means within 72 hours upon recognition of a
case. DHS
Communicable Disease Reporting
Wisconsin case reporting
and public health follow-up guidelines: Trichinosis
EpiNet (PDF, 39 KB)
CDC
Trichinosis case report form (PDF, 441
KB)
Contacts
Wisconsin
Local Health Departments - Regional offices - Tribal agencies
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Last Revised:
June 13, 2012 |
