Shanghai Man Nearly Dies After Eating Raw Seafood in Thailand

Shanghai Man Nearly Dies After Eating Raw Seafood in Thailand

A businessman from Shanghai spent more than a month in hospital after developing a severe amoebic infection following a trip to Thailand, with Chinese media linking the illness to his consumption of raw marinated seafood and spoiled drinks. The man, identified only as Xu, initially experienced mild stomach discomfort while travelling and assumed it was simply the result of eating and drinking too much. But after returning to China, his condition deteriorated dramatically. Doctors found extensive ulcers throughout both his small and large intestines, repeated internal bleeding and septic shock. His haemoglobin level had fallen below six grams per decilitre, indicating severe anaemia, while his blood-clotting ability had also been badly affected. Tests identified Entamoeba histolytica, the parasite responsible for amoebic dysentery. Doctors initially attempted surgery, but his condition was too severe for further procedures. He was eventually transferred to a specialist hospital in Shanghai and underwent more than 30 days of treatment before being brought out of danger. Doctors stressed that this was not the so-called “brain-eating amoeba” and that the infection is spread through contaminated food or water.