Tapeworm discovered in the brain of an Australian woman who suffered from headaches

[tickyul]

Definitely the most common way for humans to get a parasitic-brain-infection is via eating undercooked pork that is infected with pork-tapeworm-eggs.

A sick pig can have pork worms, eggs and larvae present in and on it flesh. I believe if a
pig/pig-carcass is detected to contain taenia-solium, it cannot be processed/used for
human-consumption. But, if it goes to slaughter, and the parasitic-infection is not detected, or not properly dealt with, and a human does not cook the meat good enough, that can mean they are consuming parasitic-eggs, which can lead to a parasitic-brain-infection.

Another way the parasitic-eggs get onto a otherwise healthy, non-infected animal-carcass is an infected-source (feces) comes into contact with the carcass, yuck.

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by 2sleepy

trichinosis is pretty rare now, the parasite responsible is largely eradicated (at least in the US) and freezing kills it, also hogs are usually raised inside now which reduces the chance for contact with the parasite.

I raise pigs, and I have attended multiple USDA workshops on swine health.

Pigs that live inside pens are exposed to their own feces. When any one pig gets a 'bug' they all get that bug.

On the other hand, our pigs free-range in the forest. Fresh air, sunlight and they do not bed down in their own feces.

When pigs are penned they require a lot more medications to prevent diseases.

In workshops I have attended, when discussing swine diseases for most diseases 'free range' is considered to be the preventative measure.

[AntonioR]

Originally Posted by Submariner

I raise pigs, and I have attended multiple USDA workshops on swine health.

Pigs that live inside pens are exposed to their own feces. When any one pig gets a 'bug' they all get that bug.

On the other hand, our pigs free-range in the forest. Fresh air, sunlight and they do not bed down in their own feces.

When pigs are penned they require a lot more medications to prevent diseases.

In workshops I have attended, when discussing swine diseases for most diseases 'free range' is considered to be the preventative measure.

I never thought about that. This life where at least food is guaranteed sucks big time. People and their love of bacon, pork chops, etc. Although I have eaten pork, I don’t like it too much.