- Stay Connected
Socialize
Research Links Pork To Increase Of Epilepsy Cases In Zambia
A researcher conducted by the University Of Zambia School of Veterinary Medicine has attributed the increase in epilepsy cases in the country to consumption of pork that contains tapeworm.
The Research has also found that humans acquire the adult tapeworm by eating infected undercooked pork meat leading to taeniosis, while pigs acquire the infection by eating hymn graces from an adult pork tapeworm carrier.
Dr. Kabemba Mwape from the University Of Zambia School of Veterinary Medicine Department of Clinical Studies, says there is need to recognize the parasite as an important health problem that needs concerted efforts to fight so that the suffering of people with epilepsy could be abated.
Speaking during the second Research and Science media briefing in Lusaka today, Dr. Mwape has since called for a multi-sectoral approach involving the Ministry of Health, Veterinary and local communities to ensure that they work together in controlling the parasite in pigs and also in humans.
According to the report adult pork tapeworm infection in humans in Zambia is reported to range from 6 to 12 percent while in pigs its about 9 to 34 percent by world standards.
Dr. Mwape notes that this high prevalence of pork tapeworm infections in both pigs and humans shows that there is urgent need to identify the importance of the parasite as a cause of acquired epilepsy in the country.
And UNZA Acting Vice Chancellor Enala Tembo says Research and Science form a control Engine to development and the knowledge economy of many countries like Zambia.
Professor Tembo says it is for this reason that the University of Zambia has created an enabling environment for research activities by coming up with a research and intellectual properties rights policy to ensure that research outputs feed into national development, enhance teaching and curricula development at the University.
She has since advised students to carry out research in the areas of basic science and applied sciences to meet the developmental needs of the country, and the African continent at large
Posted by Staffreporter (online)
on September 24, 2015. Filed under HEALTH.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Vendetta Journalists
September 24, 2015 at 9:00 pm
Have medical journals published this research or is Tumfweko the first publisher?
Denkete
September 26, 2015 at 4:37 am
pork chops + spare ribs = epilepsy.
Denkete
September 24, 2015 at 9:57 pm
When Jesus found a man who was possessed with 500 demons, he cast them out and they went into pigs. However, some went into NEZ.
New Educated Zambia©❤√
September 24, 2015 at 10:06 pm
Kiki denkete what a foolish comment above. What the veterinary school forgot to add to this study is the fact that many zambians actually wont be affected by this because under pf pork is a luxury only the pf officials can afford. many zambians can barely afford bread.
Chief of Grief
September 24, 2015 at 10:23 pm
Am pleased to know that this time around its a zambian research noti daily ifyakubulaya.Ka pork ni down elo nshakaleke…
Pwii
September 25, 2015 at 3:05 am
Imichopo ni zee ilakontolola.
Tisa
September 25, 2015 at 6:47 am
And for this reason I do not eat pork because it is unhealthy.If anything all meat is unhealthy that is the reason why in the garden of Eden God did not say you shall eat animals. When the children of Israel were traveling they were not eating meat. People started eating meats after the floods I think, God allowed them because they insisted. Remember that life of a living animal is in its blood therefore when we eat meat, we also eat the diseases which that animal carries.
I am not surprised with this news.
Good day people.
Panda
September 25, 2015 at 12:26 pm
I had a friend who was reasoning just like you. Guess what, he died of malnutrition!
ImBeautifulAndILikeIt
September 26, 2015 at 3:19 pm
Sorry for the loss of your friend. He/she didn’t balance the nutrition. Your friend should have consulted with vegetarians before becoming one. I know many vegetarians and vegans who are very healthy. Its not something that you do alone you need a village to help you out when starting.
Chinswe Chisokwe
September 27, 2015 at 3:52 pm
How could they have when you hardly get animals in the desert?
Inside insight
September 27, 2015 at 4:02 pm
When the Ngone left Kwazulu on the journey to Zambia they ate a lot of meat. When the Bemba left Angola in 1396 they ate a lot of meat when the ….Africans have survived on meat
tutu
September 25, 2015 at 11:37 am
imichopo sha poko shena ala shilatwala palya ulenwa kantoba..mmmh no white person involved in this research,I highly doubt t’s authenticity! can a white person please confirm this for me…
Matador
September 25, 2015 at 8:15 pm
I seriously doubt whether thèse findings measure up to the tests of Djuschambe international reliability and validty. Thats why such news is not for académic journals.
lwishe
September 25, 2015 at 8:54 pm
the posters u gave us at the center Dr mwape re helping in educating the community abt epileps related to pigs. kip it up.
wamuma
September 26, 2015 at 2:11 am
This is not news. Fact known for decades. Check for instance this journal
Epilepsy Curr. 2004 May; 4(3): 107–111.
this one as well
emedicine.medscape.com/article/1168656-overview
DOVE
September 26, 2015 at 8:10 am
pork meat is cursed.
Bemba Tribalist
September 26, 2015 at 8:16 am
Swine or pork is not for food…as the honourable minister Louis farrakhan.
Jt
September 27, 2015 at 6:30 am
Mandu muzayamba udwala khunyu pa last. Ati ka pork kasuma sana.ok.