Additional Diseases

Food- Borne Diseases
Insect- Borne Diseases
Water- Borne Diseases
Other Diseases

Food- Borne Diseases
Fecal contamination
•	Bacteria, viruses and parasites live and grow in the intestines of animals
•	They can contaminate hands, meat & utensils and can cause illness if eaten
•	This is sometimes called FOOD POISONING
	Beware: Some food-borne diseases can be transmitted from person to person
Examples
•	Salmonella
•	E-coli
•	Toxoplasmosis
How can I get sick?
•	Eating raw or undercooked meat
•	Improper food PREPARATION & COOKING
•	Contaminating cooked food with:
	- Raw or undercooked meat
	- Dirty hands & utensils
	- Dirty food preparation surfaces
How can I protect myself?
•	Cook meat to recommended temperatures
	Beware: Freezing may not kill all harmful bacteria, viruses or parasites
•	Wash your hands with soap and water
	- After using the bathroom
	- After handling carcasses, live animals or their feces
	- Before eating or handling food
•	Properly store meat
	- Refrigerate
	- Freeze when storage for more than 2 days is required
	- Thaw meat in the fridge and not on the counter
•	Cook in a clean area
	- Scrub surfaces, utensils and cooking equipment with soap and water before and after food preparation
Not feeling well?
•	Recognize common symptoms of foodborne disease:
	- Diarrhea	- Fever
	- Nausea	- Weakness
	- Vomiting	- Stomach pain
•	Contact your doctor if you become ill after eating raw or undercooked meat
•	Tell your doctor what you hunted & ate

Insect- Borne Diseases
Insects that can carry disease
Tick Flea Mosquito
Examples
•	Lyme Disease	•	Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
•	Ehrlichiosis	•	West Nile Virus (WNv)
•	Babesiosis
How can I get sick?
•	You get bitten by an infected tick, flea or mosquito
How bad can it get?
•	Symptoms can range from mild illness to hospitalization to death
How can I protect myself?
•	Prevent TICK bites
	- Walk on cleared trails
	- Wear a hat, long sleeves & pants, and light coloured clothing
	- Tuck pant legs into socks or boots
	- Use insect repellents (with DEET) on clothing and exposed skin
	Inspect clothes and skin for ticks
	Have a health care professional remove the ticks immediately
	If you have to remove the whole tick with tweezers, try not to squeeze it!
•	Prevent MOSQUITO bites
	- Wear light coloured, long-sleeved clothing
	- Use insect repellents (with DEET)
	Beware: Mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn - take precautions!
Not feeling well?
•	Initial symptoms may be mild & include:
	- Fever		- Chills
	- Nausea		- Sweats
	- Vomiting		- Sore throat
	- Headache		- Cough
	- Muscle pains		- Rash
	- Fatigue
•	More serious conditions can develop, and include the sudden onset of:
	- Chest pain
	- Muscle pain
	- Stomach pain
	- Loss of appetite and / or weight
•	Consult your doctor if you have any of these symptoms up to 2 months after exposure to ticks, fl eas or mosquitoes.

Water- Borne Diseases
Background
•	Water (especially from streams, rivers, ponds and lakes) can contain harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites
•	You may become ill after drinking water from these sources
•
Examples
•	Beaver Fever (Giardiasis)
•	Cryptosporidiosis
How can I get sick?
•	Drinking water contaminated with animal or human feces
How can I protect myself?
•	Bring safe or bottled water
•	Boil all stream, river and lake water at a rolling boil for at least three minutes before using it for:
	- Drinking
	- Preparing food
	- Brushing your teeth
	Beware: Chemical disinfection & fi lters may not kill all bacteria, viruses or parasites
•	Avoid swallowing the water when swimming in streams, rivers and lakes
•	Protect water sources:
	- Bury your wastes far away from any water
Not feeling well?
•	Recognize common symptoms of waterborne disease:
	- Diarrhea	- Stomach cramps
	- Nausea	- Bloating
	- Fatigue	- Weight loss
	- Chills	- Fever
•	If you develop symptoms:
	- Drink plenty of safe water
	- Use oral rehydration salts
	- Contact your doctor as soon as possible
	- Tell your doctor that you may have swallowed contaminated water
	Beware: Some water-borne diseases can be transmitted from person to person

Additional Diseases
Abscesses
•	Pus & bacteria-fi lled lumps found within animal tissues, usually during butchering
	- Most animals appear to be healthy
•	If there is only one abscess, trim away and discard the affected meat
•	If multiple abscesses are found, it is safer not to eat the animal NEVER cut into abscesses or eat meat containing abscesses
Hantavirus
•	A rare & potentially fatal virus in wild mice
•	You may contract it by breathing virus carried on dust particles from mouse feces, dried urine or nesting materials
	- Rodent-proof your home / cabin
	- Avoid contact with rodents & their feces
	- Wear a protective mask when you work in enclosed spaces where rodents live
	Details on safe clean-up are available at the BC Centre for Disease Control under ‘Health Topics’
Bird Flu (Avian Influenza)
•	Some forms of bird fl u can be transmitted to people
•	Contact BCCDC for any updates to the situation in British Columbia
•	Wild birds can carry bird fl u but rarely get sick
•	Practise proper hygiene when butchering birds - wear gloves & wash hands
	Avoid handling sick or already dead wild birds
Filarial Worms
•	Long, white & slender roundworms found under the skin of black bears
•	Black fl ies spread these worms to new hosts
•	These worms rarely cause illness in people
	Filarial worms may be seen during the butchering of bears
	Bear meat is still edible, but cook it first
Raccoon Roundworm (Baylisascaris)
•	Found in raccoon intestines
•	People can be exposed by ingesting roundworm eggs - take precautions
•	Practise proper hygiene and wear protective clothing (gloves and coveralls) when skinning raccoons
•	Disinfect your work space
•	Health effects in people may include:
	- Skin irritation	- Brain damage
	- Eye damage	- Death is rare
	Avoid contact with raccoons & their feces