According to the National Digestive Information Clearinghouse, 76 million people in the US are affected by Food Borne Illnesses. Out of the 70 million people affected, 5000 die from renal failures and food poisoning caused by the illnesses. If you feel excessive abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, you may have one of the following ten food borne illnesses.
1. E-coli:
E-coli (or Ecoli 0157: H7) is a bacteria that lives in human and animal intestines which produces Shiga toxins that lead to illnesses in humans. Although it is commonly found in cows, chickens, deer, sheep and pig are also known to carry it. Major sources of the bacteria are food, water, animals and people. Although the disease usually goes away within 1 week, it causes kidney failure when left untreated.
Notable Incidents: Walkerton, ON (2000)-7 deaths; Germany (2011)-35 deaths as of June 15, 2011
2. Listeria:
Although Listeria bacteria are mostly found in food, it has been present in vegetation, water, sewage and faeces of humans and animals as well. It mostly affects pregnant women, the elderly and those who have weak immune systems. According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, pregnant women are 20% more likely to be affected by the Listeria bacteria. Some of the consequences of the disease are brain problems which lead to deaths. Major signs of listeria include vomiting, cramps, fever, diarrhoea and severe headaches.
Notable Incidents: Maple Leaf Incident (2008)-23 deaths; 57 ill
3. Mad Cow Disease:
This food borne illness is caused by a neurological virus in a cow that degenerates the brain and spinal cord. It is easily transmitted to humans. If infected through digestion, humans can carry the human equivalent: Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). According to Health Canada statistics there have 180 cases of Mad Cow Disease since the 1990s. Between 2003 and 2008, there were 8.
Notable Incidents: Alberta (2003), Great Britain (2009)-166 people affected
4. Hepatitis A:
Hepatitis A is the inflammation in the liver caused by alcohol, medicine, chemicals and poison. It could be caused by food that was previously touched by a person affected with the virus. Uncooked and raw shellfish exposed to sewage also is a major source of the virus. It usually heals within 1 week without any long term damage. With vaccines and excellent anti-bodies, Hepatitis A incidents have decreased.
Notable Incidents: Regions such as Africa and Asia, where sanitation is poor or absence, Hepatitis A still prevails.
5. Salmonella:
This parasite and bacteria found in animal, bird and human intestines is another prevalent food borne illness. The major symptom of Salmonella is fever which arises 24 to 72 after coming into contact with contaminated food. There are three major ways to spread it: 1) person to person; 2) animal to person; 3) food coming into contact with people. There have been cases of it in raw poultry, dog treats and shrimp.
Notable Incidents: Canada and United States (2009)-400 in USA affected and 1 in Canada
This disorder is often seen among those who have been abducted in the past. The hostage begins to feel sympathy, compliance as well as loyalty with the person who has kidnapped him. The risk does not matter and the hostage may also refuse to testify again him.
This mental disorder is seen amongst the hostage takers wherein they become in tune with the needs of those who they have kidnapped. They become emotionally attached to them and end up releasing them quite quickly.
This mental disorder is associated with a Greek philosopher who decided to live like an animal. Therefore, those who suffer from this disorder resign themselves to a life characterized by unusual and reclusive tendencies; a type of hoarding that is compulsive and self neglect. Diogenes Syndrome is associated with such senior citizens that are slightly senile.
This mental disorder is very common among those Japanese tourists who become anxious in Paris and have severe mental meltdowns. Even though it is quite rare, the experience can be quite harrowing for those who suffer from it. These polite tourists suffer from a major culture shock as they cannot understand why the city is nothing like it is portrayed in the movies.
Those who suffer from this mental disorder find it difficult to stand before beautiful artwork. They are instantly anxious, confused and dizzy. Some may even hallucinate if they see ‘too much art’ in one place. This term is also used to describe that condition which is associated with people who experience the same symptoms after being exposed to natural beauty.
The Human immunodeficiency virus, leads to a state of lack of immunity. The host tends to acquire immune deficiency syndrome, which naturally tends to crush a human upon slightest exposure. The disease seen a categorization in terms of a major epidemic. Though by itself, the virus has far more strength such that a large number of AIDS victims finally yield to death from an AIDS related deficiency.
The virus had not been detected until around 3 decades ago. The Ebola leaves behind a fatality of around 90%. Recorded for equal damage to both humans and animal stocks, the Ebola is known to kill the victim within 6-7 days. Death would come from either multiple organ failure or hypovelmic shock. Sometime back a survey showed that there are companies which have created an effective vaccine which proved it self in tests carried on monkeys.
A big-time break out of the virus carried some big scare, a couple of years back. Although severe acute respiratory syndrome has not seen many outbreaks in middle Asia. Most of the time, the disease strikes in a viral form, which comes on a fatality rate of around 65-70% at least. The highest mortality range starts with people over the age of 65. It is said that the government and heath care of China came up with a vaccine which was supposedly effective in about 75% of the test operations.
Malaria is a vector borne disease, with its claws dug mostly in third world countries. With a count of about 500 million people catching this disease, and around 1.5 million succumbing to its blow. However, with proper care, a patient of malaria may very much expect a full time recovery. Like many other diseases, Malaria does not have vaccine either.
Anthrax called currency as a name for biological warfare, which has been doing rounds for quite sometime now. A person inhaling anthrax will die due to the poisoning caused by the spores. In fact, a live stock affected by anthrax is likely to kill the person who ingests it. After contamination, the bacteria of anthrax are known to multiply at a high speed, eventually killing the host with by realizing two very poisonous toxic chemicals. The host may die immediately, or may live up to a month, with sharp breathing problems.
