Roundworm danger from raw fish

Press, 20 February 1988, Page 35

Roundworm danger from raw fish

PA Tokyo Raw fish Japanese-style may be seen as a lowcalorie health food by its fans, but the dieter’s delight can conceal nasty parasites, a Japanese official said.

Noboru Kagei, of Japan’s National health Institute, said certain types of raw fish contained roundworms which could cause severe stomach pain and even serious digestive tract problems.

“There are lots of people getting sick from eating raw fish — not only in Tokyo but in New York and London too,” Kagei said in an interview.

He said Japan did not keep statistics on the number of such cases, but added, “Many people fajj,

ill of it every year.” Fish from northern waters such as mackerel, sardines, and salmon were the most likely to contain the parasites, he said. Popular varieties such as tuna and yellowtail were far less likely to contain roundworms, he said. Roundworm - infested fish cause sharp stomach pains and nausea a few hours after it is swallowed, Kagei said. In more severe cases roundworms could cause acute intestinal obstructions which require surgery. The only way to kill the parasite was to cook the fish at 60 deg for one minute, or freeze it for several hours at minus 20 deg.