Woman goes blind after getting parasite from Thai food - raw prawns blamed

[webfact]

 

Thai PBS reported that Naresuan Hospital in Phitsanulok in northern Thailand had their first case of blindness caused by a worm parasite present in the lungs of rats.

 

The civil servant aged 40 got the worm in her eye.

 

Picture: Thai PBS

 

She was particularly fond of eating raw Thai dishes principally one called "Kung Chae Nam Plaa.

 

This is uncooked prawns marinated in fish sauce, a very popular Thai delicacy usually served with some ornamental veg and chilis. 

 

Picture: Thai PBS

 

This is the suspected cause of the contamination from the rat. It can cross to fresh water prawns after building up in blood cells of a rodent. 

 

All over the world there have only been 50 cases, 18 mostly in the north east of Thailand since 1962.

 

Picture: Thai PBS

 

This was the first case for Phitsanulok. The woman lost her sight in one eye.

 

Doctors warned people about eating raw food from fresh water sources. 

 

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[BritManToo]

That's just nasty!

[law ling]

1. Yes, as they say: If you read a book on Tropical Medicine, you'd never go near a tropical country.

 

2. It's very scary visiting up-country and noting what they eat e.g. all sorts of gathered wild food e.g. water snails. I have to ask for some chicken or pork, but even that can be undercooked and bloody.

 

3. This Christmas just passed, my restaurant's set menu started with a shrimp cocktail - the shrimp were raw inside, and sent back ... but it ruined what should have been a nice lunch.

[tonray]

Our property is loaded with large snails, which devour everything. I researched if they are edible and while these same snails are apparently a delicacy in Korea, grilled, they can also carry this same rat lungworm ...so no way even grilled was I going to chance it.

[Geoffggi]

I wish I hadn't read this, Kung Chae Nam Plaa is one of my favorite Thai dishes ????

 

[tonray]

4 minutes ago, Geoffggi said:

I wish I hadn't read this, Kung Chae Nam Plaa is one of my favorite Thai dishes ????

 

Just close one eye when you see it on the menu

[PJPom]

My first introduction to Issan cooking, or lack of , was at a restaurant at Lam Pao Dam where my wife and her family ate live prawns. 
The lady that sold them took a small scoop of live prawns, ho longer than an inch, stirred them in a bowl with sauces and green shoots and then put them on a large leaf.

They were then scooped up and wrapped in another leaf and eaten.

What amused me were the cats that accompanied the seller, they sat quietly beside the table and if one of the prawns managed to escape that was their snack.

I stuck to the chicken on two sticks.

[ezzra]

When we were young we were told that if we Delete too often we will go blind, that's the reason why i wear thick glasses now days i think...

[MarcelV]

Great to read this after having eaten yum kung sod yesterday evening. NOT!

Reminds me of the inherent dangers of some of the food here.

[sandyf]

9 minutes ago, MarcelV said:

Great to read this after having eaten yum kung sod yesterday evening. NOT!

Reminds me of the inherent dangers of some of the food here.

There is a certain amount of danger from raw or badly cooked food wherever you are.

I have 2 friends where they had problem with their wives and a parasite, about 15 years ago and both in a short time frame.

One got the parasite in the brain and died. The other went blind and had some very expensive operations at Bangkok hospitals. The mother of her husband had recently died in the UK and left him a house but his wife's problem left him bankrupt, literally. The operations however were relatively successful and she slowly regained her sight. They returned to the UK so he could work again and despite the stigma of bankruptcy doing quite well.

I live in Chonburi and those from around here do not eat northern food that includes raw meat or fish. My wife's family will not knowingly eat river fish or shellfish even if it is cooked.

[Enzian]

My gf just said that marinate in soda and lemon juice is the right way, sound right? 

[Gandtee]

9 hours ago, ezzra said:

When we were young we were told that if we Delete too often we will go blind, that's the reason why i wear thick glasses now days i think...

Don't come the raw prawn mate!????

[hioctane]

3 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

I wish I hadn't read this, Kung Chae Nam Plaa is one of my favorite Thai dishes ????

 

Relax. 50 cases in 80 years in the whole world! You are a million times more likely to get salmonella from salad. There is always risk with raw food.

[RichardColeman]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

All over the world there have only been 50 cases, 18 mostly in the north east of Thailand since 1962.

mark that down as a successful number one place again then

[Ohyesuare]

3 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

I wish I hadn't read this, Kung Chae Nam Plaa is one of my favorite Thai dishes ????

 

Same here, eat it fairly often. With how rare it is, I don't think it'll stop me. I'll still have the one good eye anyway hopefully.

[Joe Farang]

9 hours ago, ezzra said:

When we were young we were told that if we Delete too often we will go blind, that's the reason why i wear thick glasses now days i think...

"<deleted>"

[RJRS1301]

3 hours ago, sandyf said:

There is a certain amount of danger from raw or badly cooked food wherever you are.

I have 2 friends where they had problem with their wives and a parasite, about 15 years ago and both in a short time frame.

One got the parasite in the brain and died. The other went blind and had some very expensive operations at Bangkok hospitals. The mother of her husband had recently died in the UK and left him a house but his wife's problem left him bankrupt, literally. The operations however were relatively successful and she slowly regained her sight. They returned to the UK so he could work again and despite the stigma of bankruptcy doing quite well.

I live in Chonburi and those from around here do not eat northern food that includes raw meat or fish. My wife's family will not knowingly eat river fish or shellfish even if it is cooked.

I well recall being warned on my first visit to Thailand (last century) to never eat  the river fish, anywhere in Thailand, warned by a Thai medico.Raw prawns is definite no no for me as well along with rat curry

[JimmyJ]

Go Vegan!

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

She was particularly fond of eating raw Thai dishes principally one called "Kung Chae Nam Plaa.

Not the best choice to make.. raw food?

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

I wish I hadn't read this, Kung Chae Nam Plaa is one of my favorite Thai dishes ????

 

IF YOU CAN READ THIS YOUR'E FINE.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, Enzian said:

My gf just said that marinate in soda and lemon juice is the right way, sound right? 

Not for me, but its a personal choice.

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, JimmyJ said:

Go Vegan!

Watch out for caterpillars... nothing worse than finding half of one after a bite.

[spidermike007]

I was recently told that GERD is the leading cause of death, of Thai women under 40 years of age. And this can often times be caused by fermented food, raw fish or meat, too much alcohol, or other funky food. This can be very serious, and should not be taken lightly. When I am visiting my family in Issan, I cannot believe some of the bizarre food they eat. Some of it is just strange to me. But, some of it cannot possibly be healthy to consume. 

[RJRS1301]

6 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

IF YOU CAN READ THIS YOUR'E FINE.

so far

[SimonRoget]

6 hours ago, law ling said:

1. Yes, as they say: If you read a book on Tropical Medicine, you'd never go near a tropical country.

 

2. It's very scary visiting up-country and noting what they eat e.g. all sorts of gathered wild food e.g. water snails. I have to ask for some chicken or pork, but even that can be undercooked and bloody.

 

3. This Christmas just passed, my restaurant's set menu started with a shrimp cocktail - the shrimp were raw inside, and sent back ... but it ruined what should have been a nice lunch.

Answer = Thawd man goong no issues

[phetphet]

Wasn't there a story in all the papers last year about a young Aussie who for a drunken dare had eaten a slug?

 

Similar thing, Lungworm went to his brain. Vegetative then died.

[sandyf]

2 hours ago, RJRS1301 said:

I well recall being warned on my first visit to Thailand (last century) to never eat  the river fish, anywhere in Thailand, warned by a Thai medico.Raw prawns is definite no no for me as well along with rat curry

I am with you or that. One of the roads we use going north, can't quite remember where, you pass through a rat district. Stalls all along the road selling them, stomach turns at the thought.

[Burma Bill]

4 hours ago, hioctane said:

There is always risk with raw food.

Yes indeed and this is one which my Thai family in Lanna relished - Raw Pig's Blood soup, sometimes served with sliced raw pigs kidney as a side dish. Never for me as they usually ended up with a severe bout of Bangkok Belly!!

 

 

Edited February 3, 2022 by Burma Bill
additional information

[pizzachang]

4 hours ago, hioctane said:

Relax. 50 cases in 80 years in the whole world! You are a million times more likely to get salmonella from salad. There is always risk with raw food.

Lots of food borne illness in the USA too. Usually from raw vegetables. Not as dramatic as this parasite, but how many have been affected by prions? Big problem a few years ago.

[brianthainess]

7 hours ago, Enzian said:

My gf just said that marinate in soda and lemon juice is the right way, sound right? 

Well it removes rust stains from tiles so maybe ????