Opinion / Columnist
'Listeria now affecting us'
19 Mar 2018 at 10:54hrs | Views
Since its inception in January 2017 listeria has relatively taken the lives of more than 180 people including children and babies in South Africa. The disease is mainly contracted through sausages, bacon, boerewors, processed foods, chicken and tinned meat.
The disease was first recorded in 1977 and between August 1977 and April 1978 14 cases were recorded in Johannesburg. Ever since then the disease has been sporadic with seven cases recorded between January and September 2015 at a tertiary hospital in the Western Cape Province. South Africa now has the largest outbreak of listeria ever recorded.
Listeria has relatively affected the low income earners who tend to buy cheap meat and tinned meat as a form of their relish. The epidemic seems to be growing by each day and the cure for the disease is still unavailable.
The disease is also attributed to eating improperly washed and cooked meat. With cases almost emanating on a daily basis the question is, what is now next and how can the epidemic be curbed to avoid more fatalities.
Unfortunately this question is still hovering around as no precise answer has been given yet as the disease has no vaccine. Health experts have advised people to keep their fridges at 4 degrees Celsius and their freezers at -18 degrees Celsius. Also the minister of health Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi has advised all those who purchased the sausages, bacon, boerewors, processed foods and tinned meat to return them to their place of purchase to avoid enhancing the epidemic which is an initiative which most retail outlets have decided to adhere to since they are also refunding customers regardless of the time frame of purchase.
Tiger brands and Rainbow Chicken have been allegedly said to be the main culprits of the syndicate since their products are the ones that have been largely found to be contaminated with listeria which they have castigated. Regardless, some law firms have already decided to file a class of law suits against the companies which comprise of murder, culpable homicide and assault with regards to people who succumbed to death as a result of listeriosis.
With the outbreak escalating most of the Southern African countries have decided to suspend the importation of meat from South Africa amid fear of the listeriosis epidemic. As a result of this, the South African export industry is now feeling the repercussions of the epidemic. With regards to this Brand Finance Africa director Jeremy Sampson said that "the listeria outbreak is now affecting us"
The industry also contributes six percent of the country‘s Gross Domestic Product (G.D.P). Four cases have also been currently reported of listeria in Australia as a result of a contaminated rock melon. If the situation does not subside South Africa might be on the verge of losing a lot of revenue at the expense of the epidemic.
The disease was first recorded in 1977 and between August 1977 and April 1978 14 cases were recorded in Johannesburg. Ever since then the disease has been sporadic with seven cases recorded between January and September 2015 at a tertiary hospital in the Western Cape Province. South Africa now has the largest outbreak of listeria ever recorded.
Listeria has relatively affected the low income earners who tend to buy cheap meat and tinned meat as a form of their relish. The epidemic seems to be growing by each day and the cure for the disease is still unavailable.
The disease is also attributed to eating improperly washed and cooked meat. With cases almost emanating on a daily basis the question is, what is now next and how can the epidemic be curbed to avoid more fatalities.
Tiger brands and Rainbow Chicken have been allegedly said to be the main culprits of the syndicate since their products are the ones that have been largely found to be contaminated with listeria which they have castigated. Regardless, some law firms have already decided to file a class of law suits against the companies which comprise of murder, culpable homicide and assault with regards to people who succumbed to death as a result of listeriosis.
With the outbreak escalating most of the Southern African countries have decided to suspend the importation of meat from South Africa amid fear of the listeriosis epidemic. As a result of this, the South African export industry is now feeling the repercussions of the epidemic. With regards to this Brand Finance Africa director Jeremy Sampson said that "the listeria outbreak is now affecting us"
The industry also contributes six percent of the country‘s Gross Domestic Product (G.D.P). Four cases have also been currently reported of listeria in Australia as a result of a contaminated rock melon. If the situation does not subside South Africa might be on the verge of losing a lot of revenue at the expense of the epidemic.
Source - Daniel Itai
All articles and letters published on Bulawayo24 have been independently written by members of Bulawayo24's community. The views of users published on Bulawayo24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Bulawayo24. Bulawayo24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.
