By NewsDesk @bactiman63

The Córdoba Ministry of Health in central Argentina is reporting 17 cases of the parasitic disease, trichinosis. Fifteen of the cases are reported from the town of Piquillín (in the Río Primero department) and two cases are from the town of Villa del Rosario (Río Segundo department).

Trichinella spiralis parasite
Trichinella spiralis cysts
Image/CDC

It is reported the patients consumed salami and chorizo, of commercial origin and also on an itinerant basis, based on epidemiological interviews. They are being treated for the parasite on an outpatient basis.

At the moment, the origin of the outbreak is under study and the investigations are carried out by the Zoonosis Program of the Ministry of Health of Córdoba, by the General Supervision Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, with the participation of SENASA, CEPROCOR and the municipalities involved.

Trichinosis is a parasitic disease caused most commonly by the roundworm Trichinella spiralis. If someone ingests undercooked or raw meat with the encysted larvae, the stomach acid releases the larvae which mature to adults in the intestine.

After about a week the female starts releasing larvae which enter the bloodstream and find their way to skeletal muscle where they encapsulate.

There can be gastrointestinal symptoms mimicking acute food poisoning when there is activity of the adults in the intestine.

Sudden appearance of fever, muscle soreness and pain with swelling of parts of the face is early classic signs. This can sometimes be followed by retinal hemorrhages and other ocular signs.

With heavy infections cardiac, respiratory and neurological problems may ensue with death by heart failure being most common. The more larvae you ingest, the more serious the disease.