Webmaster's Note: This article has been excerpted from the August edition of "RAINBOW" from the FUKUOKA INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION in Rainbow Plaza, Fukuoka, Japan. I believe it is relevant to people living in South Korea.
The monsoon season characteristic of East Asia has once again brought high temperatures and humidity to Fukuoka this summer. This time of year brings some unpleasantness into our lives, but there are also dangerous nuisances of which everyone must be aware - namely the countless number of bacterium which cause food poisoning. This season is the high point in the life of bacteria.
In Japan, the causes of food poisoning which must be watched most carefully are bacteria strains such as O-157 (e-coli), a species of Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, and salmonella. Those who have resided in Japan for some time are undoubtedly familiar with these bacterium. Last year, O-157 affected nearly 10,000 people in Japan with diarrhea and stomach pains, and it even accounted for the lives of over 10 people. Until then, the O-157 strain was only known in a handful of countries such as the United States, but now it is known by virtually everyone in Japan. Because of the terrible results caused by O-157, awareness for this has been raised higher than ever before, and O-157 strain itself has been raised its status from simple bacterium for food poisoning to that of communicable disease recognized by law.
Once again this year, O-157 has began to show its ugly face all across the country. The evils of O-157 when compared to other food poisoning bacterium, such as salmonella or vibrio parahaemolyticus, is that O-157 can be contracted from exposure to just 100-200 bacterium, whereas in the case of other bacterium, exposure to millions at a time are necessary before any ill symptoms occur.
The poisonous toxins in O-157 are extremely strong and damage the intestinal tract causing severe stomach aches and diarrhea. Also, if the toxins from the bacterium are absorbed through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream, they accumulate in the kidneys causing uremia poisoning. If the toxins make it to the brain, then the person's life is in severe danger. O-157 especially affects weaker individuals, so special care must be taken in regards to children and elderly people.
So just where does the O-157 bacteria come from? It lives in the intestines of cows and other livestock and is thought to be roosting in a number of cows. When the cows are slaughtered, the bacterium is given the opportunity to spread to the other organs of the cows, and in some cases even to the flesh. Likewise, any vegetables which come in contact with the cows' excrement are also in danger of being contaminated.
Since human beings cannot detect the bacterium with their own eyes, what is the best way to ensure that it isn't given any opportunity to spread? The items listed below are effective steps we can take to keep ourselves from being stricken with O-157 and other bacterium which cause food poisoning.
1. Purchase beef, fish, and eggs which are fresh and cook them thoroughly before consumption. Extra special care is needed in regards to the internal organs of cattle. Hamburger cooked for one minute at 75o C and above will kill the bacteria. In the case of steak or barbecued meat, the outside should be thoroughly cooked.
2. Care should be taken when handling beef or fish products. Make sure they don't come in contact with vegetables or other foodstuffs when stored in the refrigerator. Also, knives, chopping boards, dishes, and any other utensils used when preparing the beef or fish should be washed thoroughly after use. Using hot water is the best method.
3. When eating vegetables raw, such as in a salad, make sure they are washed thoroughly. Bacteria hates chlorine, so after handling beef and fish products, washing hands with chlorine is very effective.
4. When eating sashimi, or raw fish, at home, purchase only those fish products marked sashimi-yo. Prepare the sashimi using a clean chopping board and knife.
5. Hands should be washed frequently. A special soap sold at pharmacies called GYAKUSEI-SEKKEN is extremely effective in preventing spread of the bacteria.
6. People with diarrhea should receive a medical checkup as soon as possible. Some household drugs actually make the situation worse. If light-coloured blood is mixed in with the diarrhea, the person's condition is in danger and s/he should see a doctor at once!