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Yersiniosis is a stomach infection caused by a group of bacteria called yersinia. Two species of yersinia can cause yersiniosis -- yersinia enterocolitica and, less common, yersinia pseudotuberculosis.
Symptoms usually appear 3 to 7 days after you are infected. Symptoms include stomach pain, fever, nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), throwing up, and diarrhea. In some cases, it is wrongly diagnosed as appendicitis. If you have severe cramps and/or severe diarrhea, see your doctor.
Anyone can get Yersiniosis. However, you are at higher risk of getting really sick from it if your immune system is weakened (e.g., from HIV infection or AIDS, if you are having cancer treatments like chemotherapy or radiation, if you have had an organ or bone marrow transplant, or if you have hemochromatosis (iron overload syndrome). Very old people and young children are also at higher risk.
Yersinia can be carried in the intestinal tract (stomach) of humans and animals (wild animals and pets). Both humans and animals may carry the bacteria and still look and feel healthy. Lakes and streams can also carry these bacteria.
You can get yersiniosis by eating food or drinking water with yersinia bacteria in it. Outbreaks of yersiniosis have been linked to untreated water, pork, contaminated tofu and unpasteurized milk.
The yersinia bacteria can also be spread to other foods when cutting-boards or utensils are used to cut up raw meat, especially pork. If the cutting-boards or utensils are not properly cleaned after use, the bacteria can spread to other foods prepared on the same cutting boards or with the same utensils. This is especially risky for foods that are not normally cooked, such as salads, sandwiches, etc.
Household pets and other domestic animals can also carry and spread the yersinia bacteria. Birds, reptiles, amphibians (frogs, turtles), rodents, and pigs are common carriers of yersinia. It is easy for people, especially young children, to eat the yersinia bacteria by putting their hands or fingers in or near their mouth after they have handled a pet or animal that is infected with yersinia.
If you have yersiniosis your doctor may give you an antibiotic. Remember that while you start taking your medicine, the bacteria are still in your body, and you can still spread this illness to others. Do not handle food for others until your doctor has told you the bacteria are all gone. Always wash your hands after using the bathroom and before eating.
Remember that you can get yersinia from domestic animals and pets. Birds, reptiles, amphibians, and rodents are particularly risky as pets - especially for young children.
If a yersinia outbreak is suspected in your community, local public health officials will investigate to try to find out the cause. If you have been infected, you may be asked to answer some questions from your local public health officers. Also, be prepared to give them a fecal (stool) sample. They need this information to help them find the source of the infection and stop it from spreading to others.
Infected persons should not handle food until their treatment is over and the bacteria are no longer present in their body.
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