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Yersinia enterocolitica and Pigs

What is yersiniosis?

Yersiniosis (yer-SIN-ee-O-sis) is a disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia enterocolitica. People with yersiniosis can have different symptoms depending on how old they are. People can start to get sick 4 to 7 days after infection and can be sick for 1 to 3 weeks. Young children usually have fever, stomach pain, and diarrhea. Adults do not get sick with yersiniosis as often, but they can feel pain on their right side and may have a fever. Usually, these signs go away after about 3 weeks but sometimes pain in joints, such as knees or wrists, can start after that and last for several months.

Can animals transmit yersiniosis to me?

Yes, some animals pass Yersinia enterocolitica in their feces (stool) and people can get sick from contact with infected feces. Several kinds of animals can carry this disease, but usually people get sick from pigs that are sick with yersiniosis. Other animals that can carry this disease include cats, dogs, horses, cows, rodents, and rabbits. People can also get yersiniosis by eating pork that is not cooked completely or by drinking contaminated milk.

How can I protect myself from getting yersiniosis?

• Avoid eating raw or undercooked pork.
• Consume only pasteurized milk or milk products.
• Wash hands with soap and running water before eating and preparing food, after contact with animals, and after handling raw meat.
• After handling raw chitterlings(food prepared from small intestine of pigs), clean hands and fingernails thoroughly with soap and water before touching infants or their toys, bottles, or pacifiers. Someone other than the foodhandler should care for children while chitterlings are being prepared.
• Prevent cross-contamination in the kitchen: Use separate cutting boards for meat and other foods, and carefully clean all cutting boards, countertops, and utensils with soap and hot water after preparing raw meat.
• Dispose of animal feces in a sanitary manner.
  

How can I find out more about yersiniosis?

Learn more about yersiniosis at CDC's Bacterial Disease Web site.

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This page last reviewed February 14, 2003

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Infectious Diseases

US Department of Health and Human Services