The Lebanese Ministry of Health warns restaurants and restaurants after detecting suspected cases of a parasitic disease

The Ministry of Public Health announced the registration of suspected cases of trichinella disease, stressing that it is following up the file in coordination with the concerned authorities by conducting epidemiological investigations and laboratory tests necessary to determine the sources of infection and taking the necessary preventive measures to protect public health.

The Ministry explained that “Trichinella” is a parasitic disease that is transmitted to humans as a result of eating raw or undercooked meat, specifically infected pig meat and its derivatives, stressing at the same time that the disease is not transmitted directly between humans, and that its incubation period ranges between two and eight weeks from the date of eating the contaminated meal.

Regarding clinical symptoms, the Ministry stated that they usually begin with digestive disorders that include nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, followed later by fever, muscle pain, and extreme fatigue, in addition to swelling around the eyes, warning that severe cases may witness serious complications affecting the heart and the nervous and respiratory systems.

The Ministry of Health called on citizens to avoid eating raw or undercooked meat, and to be sure to buy it from reliable and controlled sources, noting that freezing, salting, or smoking are not guaranteed methods for eliminating the parasite. She also stressed the importance of adhering to hygiene and food safety rules when preparing meat, and the necessity of seeing a doctor immediately after any suspicious symptoms appear after eating uncooked meat, to ensure early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

In a related context, the Ministry issued a strong warning to owners of restaurants, butcher shops, and meat suppliers, warning against any fraud or tampering with the type, source, or suitability of meat, stressing that it will follow up on these violations in coordination with the competent supervisory and judicial authorities to take the maximum legal measures against violators.