Table of contents:
- Get to know the listeria bacteria, the deadly bacteria in Australian rock melons
- The dangers of eating Australian rock melons infected with listeria
- So, what can be done to prevent listeria infection from Australian rock melons?
Reporting from a press release from the Agricultural Quarantine Agency (BARANTAN), the Australian rock melon (cantaloupe) was reported to have been contaminated with listeria bacteria and caused the death of 3 Australians. This incident is like a reminder of the case of imported apples contaminated with the same bacteria. This further indicates that listeria bacteria need to be watched out for and prevented from infecting more. So, what is listeria bacteria and how much harm is it to the body? Find the answer in the following review.
Get to know the listeria bacteria, the deadly bacteria in Australian rock melons
Listeria infection or listeriosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. This infection is very susceptible to attacking people with weak immune systems, such as babies, pregnant women, diabetics, and cancer patients.
These bacteria can be found in soil, animal feed made from green leaves preserved by fermentation (silage), and other natural sources such as animal feces. These bacteria can infect humans who eat easy food or have been contaminated with listeria bacteria, including:
- Rock melon or watermelon
- Raw or uncooked meat
- Uncooked raw seafood or seafood
- Unpasteurized milk and soft cheese
The dangers of eating Australian rock melons infected with listeria
Listeria infection is worth watching out for. The reason is, the symptoms of this bacterial infection are very similar to flu symptoms, namely fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea, and diarrhea. These symptoms can last for days or even weeks after eating contaminated fruit or foodstuffs, for about 21 days on average.
Once these listeria bacteria escape from the digestive tract and spread throughout the body, it can cause septicemia (blood poisoning). If the infection starts to spread to the central nervous system, the sufferer will feel headaches, neck stiffness, lose balance, and sometimes experience seizures. In severe cases, this can lead to meningitis and lead to death. Meanwhile, in pregnant women, listeria infection can cause miscarriage or stillbirth.
So, what can be done to prevent listeria infection from Australian rock melons?
Although Australian rock melons are not imported into Indonesia, it never hurts to take precautions against the spread of infection from this one fruit. Especially for those of you who live in areas directly adjacent to Malaysia or Singapore, two countries that import a lot of Australian rock melons.
Head of the Agricultural Quarantine Agency, Ir. Banun Harpini, M.Sc. advises the public to avoid direct contact or consuming Australian rock melons at this time. You also need to be vigilant when you want to eat fruits that are located close to Australian rock melons because the risk of transmission can occur.
The important thing is to make sure to always wash the fruit thoroughly under running water (not just soaked) before you start peeling and eating. Don't forget to always wash your hands with soap and running water before and after eating. Better yet, choose local fruits that are safer for consumption.
x
