Thai doctor cautions against Streptococcus suis infection from undercooked pork

Highlighting the perils associated with consuming raw or undercooked pork, Thai cardiologist, Nopnath Tiarracht Suwann, recently posted a timely warning on Facebook, Kan Nop. He shared the examples of five patients contracting Streptococcus suis septicemia, a life-threatening infection colloquially known as swine meningitis, within just eight days of this month at Khon Kaen Hospital where he practices.

“During my service in August, so far I have encountered five patients infected with Streptococcus suis septicemia at the same hospital. This infection readily spreads to the brain leading to infectious meningitis and even infects the heart muscles.”

Nopnath cited a case where the bacteria formed clumps, referred to scientifically as vegetation, on a patient’s aortic valve, resulting in valve perforation and immediate flooding of the lungs. The…