Doctors at Nghe An Friendship General Hospital warn about streptococcal infection in pigs.
According to reports from the Ministry of Health's infectious disease surveillance system, since the beginning of the year, many localities have recorded an increase in cases of Streptococcus suis infection in humans.
Increased cases of Streptococcus suis infection in humans.
In Hue City, from the beginning of the year until July 14th, 37 cases of streptococcal infection in pigs have been recorded. Of all cases, there was 1 death and 3 severe cases.
In Hung Yen province, on July 15th, the provincial Department of Health established two working groups to verify information regarding suspected Streptococcus suis bacterial infection in pigs, which resulted in six people being hospitalized, two of whom have died, after consuming pig blood soup and offal at three restaurants in Dong Ky village (Quynh An commune).
In Hanoi, the first death from Streptococcus suis this year has just been recorded. Cumulatively since the beginning of the year, Hanoi has recorded 7 cases of infection and 1 death, similar to the same period last year.
LIVENghe AnAlthough no official statistics are available yet, according to the Center for Tropical Diseases at Nghe An Friendship General Hospital, the number of cases of streptococcal infection in pigs is approximately 10, an increase compared to the same period in 2024. Of these, one case is severe and the family requested to take the patient home; another case required transfer to Hanoi for treatment. The cases are scattered and not concentrated in one area.
Swine streptococcal disease, caused by Streptococcus suis (S.suis), is a zoonotic disease that can be fatal.S. suis is found in many parts of the world, particularly in pig farming areas. The prevalence of asymptomatic S. suis carriers in a pig herd is approximately 60-100%. S. suis bacteria commonly reside in the upper respiratory tract, especially the nose, as well as in the digestive and reproductive tracts of pigs.
In light of this situation, the Department of Disease Prevention, Ministry of Health, recently sent a document to the Directors of the Departments of Health in provinces and centrally-administered cities regarding strengthening the prevention and control of streptococcal infection in pigs transmitted to humans.
The Department of Disease Prevention and Control requests that the Directors of the Departments of Health in provinces and cities organize the strengthening of surveillance and early detection of suspected cases of Streptococcus suis infection in humans, and immediately implement measures to handle outbreaks.
Healthcare facilities should pay special attention to patients with suspected Streptococcus suis infection symptoms, gather epidemiological history, collect samples for testing, treat patients promptly to prevent fatalities, and notify the Center for Disease Control and Prevention for investigation and handling of the outbreak.
Coordinate closely with veterinary authorities in monitoring and detecting cases.pandemicIn pig herds, especially in areas where diseases are favorable for Streptococcus suis outbreaks such as porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), it is crucial to promptly share information to implement measures to prevent the risk of transmission to humans…
Strengthen communication through mass media and to households about measures to prevent the transmission of Streptococcus suis to humans, and coordinate with the Health and Livestock-Veterinary sectors to implement measures to handle outbreaks according to regulations.
Disease prevention measures
According to Dr. Bui Tien Hoan, Deputy Head of the Department of Virology and Parasitology, Center for Tropical Diseases, Nghe An Friendship General Hospital: Streptococcal disease in pigs is transmitted from animals to humans through respiratory droplets; contact with sick pigs or pigs carrying the bacteria (bacteria enter the bloodstream through small lesions or scratches on the skin); and eating undercooked meat from sick or infected pigs.
Currently, there is no evidence that streptococcal infections can be transmitted directly from person to person; there is no vaccine against S. suis infection in humans.
Streptococcus suis infection in humans causes systemic infection, affecting several organ systems. Meningitis is the most common clinical manifestation. Clinical features of meningitis include: high fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, tinnitus, deafness, stiff neck, altered consciousness, and various hemorrhages in several areas of the body, including petechiae, purpura, bruising, hemorrhagic blisters, and skin necrosis.
The clinical progression of streptococcal infection in pigs is very rapid. Therefore, in most cases, the initial symptoms are only fever and headache, leading patients to mistake it for a common cold and seek treatment at private clinics, self-medicating with over-the-counter drugs. As a result, by the time patients arrive at medical facilities, they have already developed pre-shock, septic shock, and multiple organ failure, requiring mechanical ventilation and hemodialysis.
Treatment for Streptococcus suis infection in humans is primarily antibiotic-based and follows the Ministry of Health's protocol. Successful cases often leave behind sequelae, the most common of which include deafness, organ failure, kidney failure, liver failure, and long-term health problems.
Master's degree holder and Doctor Bui Tien Hoan also warned: A characteristic of Streptococcus suis bacteria is that they can survive for more than 3 months in environments with temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius; at temperatures of 20-25 degrees Celsius, they can survive for 8 days; and they are destroyed at 70 degrees Celsius or higher. Therefore, everyone must eat cooked food thoroughly and drink boiled water; do not eat raw pig blood soup or any food made from pork that has not been cooked properly.
Those involved in pig farming and slaughtering need to take safety precautions such as wearing masks and gloves. People living in areas where pigs have died due to disease outbreaks also need to implement preventive measures such as properly disposing of dead pigs; spraying disinfectants, and sanitizing barns and the surrounding environment.
HOW TO PREVENT SWINE STREPTOCOCCUS DISEASE:
- Do not slaughter or consume sick or dead pigs.
- Practice good food hygiene; do not eat undercooked pork or pork offal; do not eat raw or undercooked pork or other pork products that do not meet food safety standards. Consumers should only buy pork that has been inspected by veterinary authorities.
- Use protective equipment such as gloves, boots, and eye protection; wash hands with soap before and after caring for, slaughtering, and processing pork, especially when handling sick or dead pigs.
- When there are open wounds or damaged skin areas, do not slaughter pigs or process raw pork; or if you do, the wound should be covered before contact and disinfected after handling.
- Wash all animal care, slaughtering, and kitchen utensils thoroughly with soap immediately after use.
- Implement good veterinary hygiene practices, ensuring a clean and well-ventilated environment in pig and livestock breeding areas, and compost manure to kill pathogens; do not buy, sell, or transport infected pigs from areas where the disease is prevalent to other areas.
- Individuals who exhibit suspected symptoms such as sudden high fever and have a history of caring for, slaughtering, or consuming sick or dead pigs, or eating unhygienic pork products, should immediately seek medical attention at healthcare facilities for examination, treatment, and timely management.
Dr. Bui Tien Hoan, MD, MSc - Deputy Head of the Department of Virology and Parasitology, Center for Tropical Diseases, Nghe An Friendship General Hospital
