People who enjoy picking berries in the forest can, in very rare cases, become infected with the fox tapeworm. The fox tapeworm is a very small tapeworm that can be found in foxes, but also in dogs and cats. However, humans can also contract the disease. The disease is very dangerous. The best way to protect yourself is to wash berries, mushrooms, and vegetables thoroughly and, ideally, to cook them. This also applies to wild garlic, which grows in the forest in spring.
The fox tapeworm lives in animals, especially foxes. When foxes excrete the worm’s eggs in their feces, mice ingest these eggs and the larvae grow in their bodies. If a fox then eats an infected mouse, it will get new worms in its intestines. This can also happen to dogs and cats.
Freezing does not help
Humans usually become infected by accident, for example through contact with fox or dog feces. This happens mainly through unwashed berries, mushrooms, or vegetables from the forest or garden. Because foxes are now living in cities more and more frequently, even gardens are not completely safe. Incidentally, freezing does not kill tapeworm eggs. Soil can also contain eggs.
In humans, the larvae can settle in the liver. There they grow slowly like a tumor. The disease is called alveolar echinococcosis. Without treatment, it can be very dangerous and even fatal. However, cases of the disease are very rare. Due to the reporting requirement that has been in place in Germany since 2001, between 6 and 21 new cases are recorded each year. According to the State Health Office, two to seven of these cases occur in Baden-Württemberg.
Complicated treatment
Once the disease is detected, doctors can attempt to remove the affected parts of the liver. Patients often have to take tablets against the worms for a long time.
To minimize the risk, berries, mushrooms, and vegetables should always be washed thoroughly. To be on the safe side, fruit and vegetables should be heated to at least 60 degrees Celsius. Hands should be washed thoroughly after gardening. Dogs and cats must be dewormed regularly.
Further information:
BW Health Department | The small fox tapeworm (PDF)
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