Yersiniosis

Yersiniosis is an illness caused by bacteria called Yersinia enterocolitica. This bacteria lives in several different kinds of animals, but is mostly found in pigs. 

 

If food handlers, health care and day care workers are suffering from yersiniosis, they should not go to work until they no longer have diarrhea for 24 hours

How is it spread?

Eating raw or undercooked pork that is contaminated.

Drinking tainted water and unpasteurized milk.

Handling infected dogs, cats, rabbits, farm animals or food and not washing hands. 

What are signs and symptoms?

Symptoms develop 3 -7 days after eating infected food and may last for 1-3 weeks. For infants and small children, the main symptoms are diarrhea, fever, and stomachache. For older children and adults, the symptoms include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever and soreness of the lower right stomach area. Bloody diarrhea occurs in up to one quarter of cases. Treatment with antibiotics is common for more serious cases.

• Cook meat thoroughly: pork products (other than ground) to 150 F (66°C), ground pork to 155 F (68°C), poultry 165 F (74°C), cuts such as beef, veal, lamb roasts to 145 F (63°C).

• Avoid eating raw or undercooked pork. Home made smoked pork sausages should not be eaten raw.

• Consume only pasteurized milk and milk products.

• Thoroughly wash hands with warm soapy water after handling raw pork, using the washroom, playing with pets and before carrying out any type of food handling and eating.

• Ensure water supplies are protected from contamination and safe to drink.

• Dispose of animal faces (poop) in a sanitary manner.