Millions of Illnesses Linked to Foodborne Parasites in New Research
Many parasitic infections can cause “severe and long-lasting health problems” after the initial illness, a doctor told Newsweek.
A recent study published in The Lancet Global Health suggests that hundreds of millions of illnesses worldwide each year could be attributed to foodborne invasive parasites. The research, which examined the burden of 14 parasitic diseases from 2000 to 2021, estimated that 277 million illnesses were caused by potentially foodborne invasive parasites, with approximately 171 million of these illnesses resulting from foodborne transmission.
Professor Lucy Robertson, a lead author of the study and a researcher at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, highlighted that "invasive parasites result in hundreds of millions of foodborne diseases annually." The two parasites responsible for the highest number of foodborne deaths were Taenia solium and Clonorchis sinensis, a fishborne parasitic worm also known as the Chinese liver fluke.
The study found considerable variation in the impact of different parasites, with the Americas facing the greatest burden, largely due to Chagas disease, which is spread through insects known as triatomine or "kissing bugs." While the global burden of foodborne parasitic diseases saw a decline between 2000 and 2021, an increase in disease burden was observed for Clonorchis sinensis, which the authors warn should serve as a wake-up call for authorities in affected countries.
Preventive measures, such as thorough cooking of food, safe water, proper food preparation, hand hygiene, and adequate waste disposal, are essential to combat these diseases. Robertson emphasized the importance of a One Health approach, considering the complex life cycles of parasites, involving environmental, animal, and human factors.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
