“Brexit virus” brought by EU sausages caused 60,000 Brits to fall ill each year
“Brexit virus” cases are on the rise, due to a potentially deadly disease carried in sausages made with meat from EU.
The strain of hepatitis E has been linked to pig farms on the Continent after the tropical virus mutated to infect livestock, according to the Telegraph. Public Health England reported that the amount of severe cases has trebled since 2010, with 1,244 reported in 2016 compared to 368 six years earlier.
The virus causes an illness that resembles flu, in severe instances causing death. Pregnant women and transplant patients are particularly at risk. When ingested, the virus is carried to the liver, where it attacks it and nerves. This results in people with weakened immune systems becoming seriously ill.
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Experts believe that around 10% of pork imported from Europe might be infected with the “Brexit virus”. Humans can catch the disease by eating undercooked pork, sausages, pork pies and bacon. This strain has been associated with pig farms in France, Holland, Germany and Denmark and can only be killed by cooking the meat longer than usual.
According to the Times, Dr Harry Dalton, a gastroenterologist at Exeter University, said: “I call it the Brexit virus. It attacks the liver and nerves, with a peak in May. It is particularly dangerous for people with suppressed immune systems such as those who have had organ transplants and possibly cancer. The virus seems to come from Europe.”
He advised everyone to not eat pink pork. Due to the fact that the virus is heat resistant and survives being cooked until the meat is heated to above 71C for two minutes. People who eat pork should cook bacon until crispy and sausages for at least 20 minutes.
Roy Van Den Heuvel, 61, is a victim of the virus. He told The Times of how eating salami left him in intensive care.
He said: “It started out like flu, but my arms and shoulders became so painful I had to go to hospital. They put me straight in intensive care.
“The virus had attacked the nerves in my armpits and diaphragm. I couldn’t breathe properly.
“Doctors traced the strain to salami, probably from Holland. It is cured, not cooked, and the virus survives in the fatty bits.”
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The man’s diaphragm and shoulders are partially paralyzed for the rest of his life, which renders him unable to work as a gardener.
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