Newly Found Way to Fight Listeria

Scientists has known that by inhibiting an enzyme known as glucose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase (GalU) can alter the bacteria’s, L. monocytogenes, cell surface dramatically. These alterations will lead to the bacteria being less virulent.

By using computers and cheminformatics methods, the scientists have found 37 compounds that could potentially inhibit GalU while only 3 of them are effective enough to call for further studies.

Another interesting thing that the scientist have found out is that by inhibiting GalU, L. monocytogenes seems to be more vulnerable to cefotaxime, an antibiotic which the bacteria is naturally resistant to.

References:

DESK, N., 2018. Scientists may have new weapon to fight Listeria. [Online]

Available at: http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2018/03/researchers-may-have-found-new-way-to-fight-drug-resistant-bacteria/#.W1SXSNUzbIU

[Accessed 14 March 2018].

 

Newborns: The Age Group with the Highest Risk

During the past few months, 1053 people has been infected by listeria. In January, it has been stated that the newborns alone accounted for 40% of their patients with Listeriosis. The is due to them being vulnerable because of their pregnant mothers as the bacteria may be passed from their mother to them during birth.

In February, the percentage of babies under a month old as compared to everyone that has gotten infected with listeria has risen to 42%. And the fact that pregnant women are 20 times more likely to get infected puts the newborns at a even more vulnerable position.

Recently, South Africa has reported that out of 212 people that has died due to listeria, 91 were babies under a month old. The most affected age group are newborns aged 28 days or younger, followed by people aged 15 to 49. The least affected age group are children aged from 1 month to 14 years.

References

DESK, N., n.d. New listeriosis cases down; newborns remain hardest hit. [Online]

Available at: http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2018/07/new-listeriosis-cases-down-newborns-remain-hardest-hit/#.Wz3wOtUzbIX

[Accessed 2 July 2018].

KNOWLER, W., n.d. Deaths from listeriosis outbreak now top 100. [Online]

Available at: https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2018-02-06-deaths-from-listeriosis-outbreak-now-top-100/

[Accessed 6 Feburary 2018].

MAROMO, J., n.d. Newborn babies are the worst affected by #Listeriosis outbreak. [Online]

Available at: https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/gauteng/newborn-babies-are-the-worst-affected-by-listeriosis-outbreak-12650065

[Accessed 8 January 2018].

Pork Industry Affected Due to Outbreak of Listeriosis

Since the outbreak of listeriosis, South African pork prices has decreased over a third. The demand has also fallen to the lowest throughout history. R45 million a week has been due to the low demands for pork.

This might lead to a lost of livelihood for small farmers as many has to redirect pigs for fresh meat market instead of frozen meat. Frozen meat accounts for almost 40% of their income.

Moreover, 2000 people from the pork industry had lost their jobs since the outbreak.

References

Eyewitness News, n.d. SA PORK PRICES FALL AFTER LISTERIA OUTBREAK. [Online]

Available at: http://ewn.co.za/2018/04/25/sa-pork-prices-fall-after-listeria-outbreak

[Accessed 25th April 2018].

Morning Live, n.d. 2 000 jobs lost in pork industry since Listeria outbreak. [Online]

Available at: http://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/2-000-jobs-lost-pork-industry-since-listeria-outbreak/

[Accessed 13th April 2018].

STEENKAMP, T., n.d. Listeria fallout hits pork industry hard. [Online]

Available at: https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/south-africa/2018-04-12-listeria-fallout-hits-pork-industry-hard/

[Accessed 12th April 2018].

Rockmelons

Seven lives have been lost in Australia since the breakout of listeriosis as of reported on 6th April 2018. The source of bacterial infection has been identified as the rockmelons, also known as cantaloupes.

 

However, the source of bacterial infection is not a stranger to the US. Multiple states have been affected by listeriosis associated with rockmelons since year 2011. It was one of the deadliest food related outbreak in US history. There was a total of 147 illnesses and 33 deaths reported on the 14^th September 2011 from 28 different states.

 

Currently, rockmelons from Australia are being exported to nine countries: Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Hong Kong, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

 

Listeriosis

Kind of Disease: Food poisoning

Affected Crowd: Pregnant ladies and people who has weakened immune systems such as the elderly or people with medical conditions like cancer and diabetes

Symptoms: Fever, diarrhoea, headaches…etc. Infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, infection of babies and more.

References

CNN, n.d. Listeria Fast Facts. [Online]
Available at: https://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/23/health/listeria-fast-facts/index.html
[Accessed 24 April 2018].

news.com.au, n.d. Deadly outbreak: Rockmelons contaminated with listeria claims another life in NSW. [Online]
Available at: http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/food-warnings/deadly-outbreak-rockmelons-contaminated-with-listeria-claims-another-life-in-nsw/news-story/b3d797edac38208552a8af2bd4511522
[Accessed 20 March 2018].

Reuters, n.d. WHO says Australia exported listeria-tainted melons to nine countries. [Online]
Available at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-listeria/who-says-australia-exported-listeria-tainted-melons-to-nine-countries-idUSKBN1HG263
[Accessed 9 April 2018].

Times, T. S., n.d. Lessons from Australia’s listeria outbreak. [Online]
Available at: https://www.straitstimes.com/forum/letters-in-print/lessons-from-australias-listeria-outbreak
[Accessed 23 April 2018].