Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Samantha Fox: "I'll knock your teeth out" ​

TaraDeS — 1 year ago(September 03, 2024 12:57 PM)

Treacherous Parasite from the Forest - Fox Tapeworm: That's why it's so Dangerous Now
Harvest time began in the forest.
All kinds of berries and mushrooms are ripe for collecting and eating.
But be careful!
Fox tapeworm eggs may be stuck to natural treats.
An infection can be fatal.
The fox tapeworm doesn't harm the foxes themselves.
Parasite lives in Foxes.
Fox tapeworms (Echinococcus multilocularis) are parasites that live and reproduce in the intestines of red foxes and arctic foxes. In recent years, raccoon dogs also were increasingly observed as the final host for these parasites. Humans cannot act as the final host, even if the worms' eggs enter their body. The reproductive cycle of fox tapeworms
ends
in the human organism.
However, the eggs can develop into larvae and cause a serious condition called echinococcosis.
Fox Tapeworm causes Alveolar Echinococcosis.
–>
Who can remember that term?

The disease caused by the fox tapeworm is called alveolar echinococcosis.
It gradually
damages the liver
. Many sufferers don't notice that they're ill for years.
After 5-15 years, often without any apparent connection to the cause, symptoms such as pain in the upper abdomen and jaundice appear, which is manifested by yellowing of the skin and mucosae. Other signs of infection include fatigue, weight loss and noticeably poor liver values.
Due to the non-specific symptoms, the worm disease is often only discovered by chance.
How can You become infected?
The fox excretes tapeworm limbs and eggs in its feces. These eggs can survive for long periods outside the fox, for example on fruits and mushrooms in the forest. If people come into contact with these eggs, for example by snacking on contaminated berries, they can become infected. Other foods that grow close to the ground, such as lettuce from your own garden, could also be contaminated.
The risk of catching fox tapeworm eggs is quite low from an adult's knee height upwards.
There is also the possibility of infection through direct contact with an infected animal, as foxes are becoming increasingly trusting.
The fox tapeworm cannot be transmitted from person to person.
–>
You can kiss everyone, party!

Treatment and Cure
Usually, the immune system can successfully fight off the parasite.
If the disease progresses unfavourably, it's possible to surgically remove fox tapeworms.
Drug therapy with Albendazole or Mebendazole can leastwise slow down the growth of the parasites or even stop them completely.
Without treatment, the disease leads to death.
Panicmongering or justified Fear?
Fox tapeworm infections are rare.
There were a total of 41 confirmed cases in 2022 in Germany. The curve of the number of sick people has been pointing upwards since the beginning of the millennium. More foxes and less fear of contact between foxes and humans are probably the reasons.
Foxes now feel quite comfortable even in big cities. But even if 41 cases of echinococcosis per 80 million people in Germany isn't much - you should protect yourself from the risk of an infection, because every single disease can take a dramatic course.
How can You protect yourself?
The fox tapeworm is
widespread in North America as well as in Northern, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Russia
and neighbouring countries.

• Dead foxes should either not be touched at all or only with plastic gloves.
  Foxes approaching in a friendly manner shouldn't be touched.
• Fox droppings in the garden should be removed with a shovel and then poured boiling water over the affected area to kill possible fox tapeworm eggs.
• After working in the garden, field or forest it's important to wash your hands thoroughly.
• Foods growing close to the ground (forest fruits, mushrooms, vegetables, lettuce, fallen fruits) should be washed thoroughly or cooked before consumption.
• Freezing doesn't provide any protection as the very resilient eggs of the fox tapeworm are only killed at minus 80° Celsius over several days.
  https://www.n-tv.de/wissen/Fuchsbandwurm-Darum-ist-er-jetzt-so-gefaehrlich-article25190577.html?utm_source=pocket-newtab-de-de
  September 01, 2024
  The Fox says:
  "It's not my fault!"
  What
  Samantha Fox
  did last year is a different topic.
  There's also a new, interesting article about her.