Trichinellosis

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Division of Epidemiology, Disease Surveillance and Investigation 899 N. Capitol Street, NE, Suite 580 Washington, D.C. 20002 202-442-9371 Fax 202-442-8060 * www.dchealth.dc.gov

What is Trichinosis? Trichinosis is a disease caused by a microscopic Should a person with Trichinosis be excluded parasite (worm). The parasite infects animals and from work or school? eating infected undercooked or raw causes It is not necessary to exclude a person with disease. trichinosis from work or school.

Who gets Trichinosis? Can Trichinosis be prevented? Anyone who eats undercooked or raw meat of Trichinosis can be prevented by: infected animals can develop trichinosis. • Cooking meat products until the juices products are implicated more often than other run clear or to an internal temperature . of 170 degrees • Freeze pork less than six inches thick What are the symptoms of Trichinosis? for 20 days at 5 degrees to kill any The first symptoms of trichinosis may include worms , , fatigue, , and abdominal • Cook wild game thoroughly. Freezing pain. Headaches, , chills, cough, eye wild game meats, unlike freezing pork swelling, aching joints, and muscle pains, itchy products, even for long periods of time, skin, , or constipation follow the first may not effectively kill all worms symptoms. In people heavily infected, difficulty • Cook all meat fed to or other wild coordinating movements, and heart and animals breathing problems can occur. Severe cases can • Do not allow hogs to eat uncooked result in death. carcasses of other animals, including rats, which may be infected with How is Trichinosis spread? trichinosis Trichinosis is spread by eating infected • Clean meat grinders thoroughly if you undercooked or raw meat. prepare your own ground meats • Curing (salting), drying, smoking, or How soon do symptoms appear? microwaving does not consistently kill Abdominal symptoms can occur one to two days infective worms. after infection. Further symptoms usually start two to eight weeks after eating contaminated Want more information? meat. Symptoms may range from very mild to Additional information about trichinosis and severe and relate to the number of infectious other related health care topics can be found at worms consumed in the meat. the website www.cdc.gov. . The DC Department of Health promotes the health and safety of the Is a person with Trichinosis contagious? District residents. For additional information, No, the disease is not spread from person-to please call 202-442-5842. person. Revised 09-04 How is Trichinosis treated? Several safe and effective prescription drugs are available to treat trichinosis. Treatment should start as soon as possible.