Many people have been searching about listeria infection. we are here now to tell you all you need to know about listeria infection.
what is listeria?
Listeria monocytogenes is bacteria that can contaminate food.
A specie of pathogenic bacteria that cause infection from foodborne bacteria.
This bacteria is capable of surviving in the presence and absence of oxygen.
This bacteria which is one of the most extremely severe foodborne bacteria, it can grow
And reproduce inside the host’s cells.
In the year 2024, 28 species of listeria bacteria have been found and identified.
This foodborne bacteria can be very serious on persons that are older than 70yrs, persons with weak immune system and pregnant women.
Commonly, listeria is caused by eating contaminated canned food, canned beef, Ham, Smoked Seafood and drinking raw Milk products.
Listeria can pretty well also survive in refrigeration and even freezing point.
Good a thing a thing it does not affect people who are healthy, but can be very fatal to unborn babies and new born.
Because of its ability to survive almost all weather conditions, persons with high risk of getting this severe infection are advised to avoid eating the types of food most likely to contain listeria bacteria when there is an outbreak.
symptoms and signs of Listeria Infection
The signs and symptoms of listeria is dependent on the individual infected.
Moreover, signs may begin to occur few days after eating the contaminated food.
These symptoms include
Fever
Headache
Furthermore, when the infection spreads to your central nervous system the signs include
Stiff neck
Seizures
Confusion
Fever
Listeria Infection on Pregnant Women
During pregnancy listeria symptoms are mild on the pregnant mother.
But the effect of being mild on the mother is very devastating on the unborn child because it can lead to so many things which includes
Death of the child in the womb
Miscarriage
Stillbirth
Premature birth.
Pregnant women are more exposed, more likely and easily infected by Listeria.
How to Prevent Listeria Infection
Keep things clean: after each cooking, use warm soapy water to wash your used utensils and every other surface u used in cooking.
Wash your hand very well with warm soapy water before and after preparing each meal.
Cook your food well: Do anything you have to, you can even call a friend, read cooking manual, call your mums, use a thermometer etc. all is to make sure that your meat and your food are well cooked
Wash raw vegetable well: it is not good to cut your vegetables in the market place. Simply because the environment is not friendly to it and there will not be enough water to wash it clean.
So always clean and scrub lightly your raw vegetables under plenty running water to wash it clean before cutting to use.
Don’t Eat everything: know the kind of food you process down your stomach avoid does food that are at high risk of been contaminated. Food like
Hot dogs
Soft cheese
Smoked seafood
Etc,