An infectious disease doctor explained the danger of "mouse disease"

With the beginning of the summer season, walks in parks and trips to nature, the risk of infection with a bacterial infection, yersiniosis, which is carried by mice and other small rodents, increases. The disease is transmitted through soil, contaminated food, water, and household items, and can affect the liver, spleen, and kidneys, as well as cause prolonged malaise with fever, intestinal disorders, and severe complications, Vera Serezhina, an infectious disease specialist at LabQuest Medical Company and Q Clinic, told Izvestia on May 2.

"Bacteria enter the environment with animal waste products and can persist on the surface of vegetables, fruits, dishes and other household items," she said.

According to her, pathogenic bacteria survive in the cold, actively multiply at a temperature of +2 ...-4 degrees — at the temperature of the refrigerator. Having organs of movement, they are able to seed different foods. Therefore, vegetables should be stored in separate compartments, and raw foods should not come into contact with ready-made ones. Cutting boards and knives should be different for vegetables, meat, bread.

"A person is unaware of the danger of infection when eating poorly washed vegetables or herbs from a garden where rodents have visited, as well as root vegetables bitten by rodents, especially in their raw form in salads. Or fruits, dried fruits, and nuts that are sold by weight without industrial packaging and eaten without heat treatment. Bacteria also enter the body through water, especially when using wells and springs without sanitary control," Seryozhina added.

Yersinia can be transmitted through contact with objects that bear traces of animals, from kitchen utensils to any items in the country.

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"The symptoms of yersiniosis vary depending on the form of the disease. Most often, the infection occurs with a high fever of up to 40 degrees, chills, and weakness due to general intoxication of the body. In some cases, the disease resembles a sore throat or the flu — with sore throat, body aches, and enlarged lymph nodes. It often occurs as an intestinal disorder — with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea," the infectious disease specialist noted.

Yersiniosis can lead to damage to internal organs. The bacterium enters the bloodstream and settles in the liver, spleen, and kidneys, causing systemic inflammation. This is fraught with complications from the nervous system in the form of meningitis, urinary and digestive systems. In some patients, the disease becomes protracted, with a recurrent course and chronic fatigue, the doctor said.

It is important to prevent rodents from entering the cottage by carrying out deratization. Vegetables, berries and herbs should be thoroughly washed: soak in a soapy solution for 20 minutes, and then rinse under running water and followed by rinsing with boiled water. Products should be stored in closed containers. It is important to monitor the sanitary condition of dishes, tables, kitchen boards and other surfaces that may come into contact with food. Complete disinfection of dishes is possible only in the dishwasher, Seryozhina said.

Earlier, on May 16, the pediatrician of Invitro-Voronezh, Elena Aleksentseva, told Izvestia that the key role in helminth infection is played by observing basic hygiene rules at home, in particular due to dirty hands. Also, up to 4-5 years of age, the child's immune system is in the process of formation and development, which makes children more vulnerable to various infections.