Foodborne Illnesses Widespread in Maverick County, Texas
By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2016
On a daily basis, people all across the country become ill due to foodborne illnesses which can become a great problem if not treated properly, even causing death. A review of foodborne illnesses in Maverick County, Texas by the Eagle Pass Business Journal found that said diseases are widespread.
Illnesses such as Listeriosis, Amebiasis , Botulism, Campylobacteriosis, Cholera, Hepatitis A, Cryptosporidiosis, Salmonelosis, Typhoid Fever, Shigellosis,Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli
And vibrio infections are some foodborne illnesses that affect millions of people, including residents in Maverick County.
A thorough review of the Texas Department of Health Services annual foodborne illnesses reports show that Maverick Countians have had issues with certain Foodborne illnesses more than others in the past years, including Salmonellosis ,Shigellosis and Campylobacteriosis.
The Texas Department of Health Services reported 120 cases of Salmonellosis in Maverick County during 2006 to 2014, including one case in 2006, 4 in 2007, 12 in 2008, 13 in 2009 16 in 2010, 19 in 2011, 25 in 2012 , 17 in 2013 and 13 in 2014.
Salmonellosis is an illness caused by Salmonella bacteria. There are many different species of Salmonella bacteria which can infect both humans and animals. Salmonellosis is spread by eating contaminated foods, drinking contaminated water, or having hand-to-mouth contact with the stool (feces) of an infected person or animal.
A human being is more likely to get Salmonellosis if it eats raw or undercooked poultry, eggs, or raw milk products or drink raw milk or untreated water, are a child in day-care, work in a day-care facility or with diapered children or handle pets or livestock or clean their living areas.
Another Foodborne illness that was seen more than others in Maverick County during 2006 through 2014 was Shigellosis, according to the Texas Department of Health Services.
Their were 128 cases of Shigellosis reported in Maverick County from 2006 to 2014, including
3 cases in 2006 , 9 cases in 2008, 10 cases in 2009, 6 cases in 2010 , 98 cases in 2011, and 2 cases in 2012. There were no cases of Shigellosis reported in 2013 and 2014 in Maverick County.
Shigellosis is an illness caused by Shigella bacteria.
Transmission of the illness may occur by hand-to-mouth contact with stool (feces) from a sick person or animal, eating contaminated foods, or drinking contaminated water.
A human being is more likely to get shigellosis if one is a child in day care, work in a day-care facility or with diapered children, have contact with stool through sexual practices or caring for someone with shigellosis or travel to a country where the food/water supply may be unsafe.
Symptoms may include diarrhea which may be bloody, fever, nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps .
Another foodborne illness prevalent in Maverick County is Campylobacteriorsis. There were 44 cases of Campylobacteriosis reported in Maverick County from 2006 to 2014, including one case in 2007, 4 cases in 2008, 4 cases in 2009, 8 cases in 2010, 3 cases in 2011, 4 cases in 2012, 4 cases in 2013 and 16 cases in 2014.
Campylobacteriosis is an infectious disease caused by Campylobacter bacteria.
Campylobacteriosis is associated with eating raw or undercooked poultry meat or from cross-contamination of other foods by these items. Infants may get the infection by contact with poultry packages in shopping carts.
Outbreaks of Campylobacter are usually associated with unpasteurized milk or contaminated water. Animals can also be infected, and some people have acquired their infection from contact with the stool of an ill dog or cat. The organism is not usually spread from one person to another, but this can happen if the infected person is producing a large volume of diarrhea.
Most people who become ill with campylobacteriosis get diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, and fever within two to five days after exposure to the organism. The diarrhea may be bloody and can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The illness typically lasts one week. Some infected persons do not have any symptoms. In persons with compromised immune systems, Campylobacter occasionally spreads to the bloodstream and causes a serious life-threatening infection.
For more information on Foodborne illnesses and prevention, please go to http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/disease/salmonellosis/.
These Texas Department of Health Services Report clearly indicate that Maverick County residents are subject to foodborne illnesses.
