The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) is registering more and more hepatitis E infections in Germany.
The dangerous viruses lurk in various foods.
Kassel - Hepatitis E has only been known since 1980.
Meanwhile, the number of cases of virus-related liver inflammation in Germany continues to rise.
In 2011, 238 cases were reported to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) - in August 2020 the value was 2280. Scientists assume that 17 percent of Germans were already infected with hepatitis E viruses.
On the occasion of World Hepatitis Day on July 28, the dangers of hepatitis will be highlighted.
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver.
In addition to viruses, poisons, drugs and autoimmune diseases can also be responsible for this.
The course of hepatitis E is harmless for most people.
For patients with a weakened immune system, however, an infection can be fatal.
Hepatitis E viruses are not dangerous for pigs
The dangerous hepatitis E viruses lurk mainly in pork and pork products that have not been sufficiently heated.
For the animals themselves, hepatitis E viruses are not dangerous, writes 24vita.de.
It is estimated that 40 to 50 percent of all domestic pigs are infected with the virus.
In the case of wild boars, 68 percent is assumed.
That is why the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) warns against the consumption of wild boar meat.
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Dangerous hepatitis E viruses lurk in several foods.
© Heiko Wolfraum / dpa
Hepatitis E antibodies have also been detected in roe deer and red deer.
Scientists estimate that 300,000 people in Germany are infected with the pathogens every year.
That is why the World Health Organization (WHO) urges better hepatitis prevention.
The following foods are considered to be potentially dangerous:
Meat that has not been sufficiently cooked or fried
Sausage that has not been sufficiently cooked or fried
Wild boar meat
Hepatitis E: meat and sausages should be fully heated
Meat products, in particular, are particularly often contaminated with hepatitis E viruses, which are not or hardly fried or only salted or smoked.
These include:
Mett
Mettwurst
salami
Cabanossi
If you want to reduce the risk of infection with hepatitis E viruses, you should eat more of a vegetarian or vegan diet.
Consumers should heat meat and sausage evenly and completely.
In addition, meat and sausages from species-appropriate or organic farming are less likely to be contaminated with hepatitis E viruses.
(Jan Wendt)
World Hepatitis Day
World Hepatitis Day aims to educate the population about hepatitis and encourage prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Since 2011 it has been celebrated on July 28th, the birthday of Baruch Samuel Blumberg.
Blumberg was an American medical scientist and biochemist.
He discovered hepatitis B, an infectious liver inflammation caused by viruses, and received a Nobel Prize for it.
World Hepatitis Day was launched by the World Hepatitis Alliance.
This includes 200 patient groups and organizations around the world.
In May 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) formally recognized World Hepatitis Day as International Health Day.
In Germany it is organized by the Deutsche Leberhilfe.
Diet can influence the development of many diseases.
The Stiftung Warentest warns of several foods * because of the increased risk of cancer.
* hna.de is an offer from IPPEN-MEDIA.
List of rubric lists: © Heiko Wolfraum / dpa
