Hospitals across Singapore are apparently experiencing a surge of young and old men with fever and swollen joints, according to a message circulating which claims that there has been an outbreak of Group B streptococcus (GBS) bacteria disease due to the consumption of raw fish.
According to the message, it said that all those who had fallen ill had consumed "yusheng", a dish consisting of strips of raw fish (most commonly salmon), mixed with shredded vegetables and a variety of sauces and condiments, among other ingredients.
“GBS is a common bacterium that colonises the human gut and urinary tract. It does not usually cause disease in healthy individuals,” said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in a Facebook post. “However, in adults, GBS may occasionally cause infections of the skin, joints, heart and brains. The risk factors for GBS infection include underlying chronic or co-morbid conditions.”
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The Ministry of Health (MOH) has learnt of a circulating message on mobile phones and social media claiming that there...
Posted by Ministry of Health on Monday, 13 July 2015
However, Professor Yuk Hyun-gyun from the National University of Singapore pointed out that the bacteria can be transferred to fish. "Only human beings have this kind of bacteria, so if food handlers have this bacteria and they handle fish products - raw fish products - this bacteria can transmit from food handlers to the fish products," explained Professor Yuk in a Channel NewsAsia report.
The message is currently being investigated by the Health Ministry, the National Environment Agency and Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore, MOH said.
Till then, perhaps go easy on the raw fish.
Photo: Alpha via Flickr; Facebook
Hospitals across Singapore are apparently experiencing a surge of young and old men with fever and swollen joints, according to a message circulating which claims that there has been an outbreak of Group B streptococcus (GBS) bacteria disease due to the consumption of raw fish.
According to the message, it said that all those who had fallen ill had consumed "yusheng", a dish consisting of strips of raw fish (most commonly salmon), mixed with shredded vegetables and a variety of sauces and condiments, among other ingredients.
“GBS is a common bacterium that colonises the human gut and urinary tract. It does not usually cause disease in healthy individuals,” said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in a Facebook post. “However, in adults, GBS may occasionally cause infections of the skin, joints, heart and brains. The risk factors for GBS infection include underlying chronic or co-morbid conditions.”
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The Ministry of Health (MOH) has learnt of a circulating message on mobile phones and social media claiming that there...
Posted by Ministry of Health on Monday, 13 July 2015
However, Professor Yuk Hyun-gyun from the National University of Singapore pointed out that the bacteria can be transferred to fish. "Only human beings have this kind of bacteria, so if food handlers have this bacteria and they handle fish products - raw fish products - this bacteria can transmit from food handlers to the fish products," explained Professor Yuk in a Channel NewsAsia report.
The message is currently being investigated by the Health Ministry, the National Environment Agency and Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore, MOH said.
Till then, perhaps go easy on the raw fish.
Photo: Alpha via Flickr; Facebook