| Parasites in humans are nothing new. They have been | | | | We shouldn't really be surprised at these apparently |
| a part of our make up since before our species first | | | | alarming figures. If you consider the subject |
| walked on two legs. There are more than 3,000 | | | | dispassionately you will realise that in all the millions of |
| different parasitic worms. Many of these can and do | | | | years that have past, from our earliest beginnings, |
| affect us. | | | | other creatures have also been evolving alongside us |
| It is possible to avoid many parasitic infections by | | | | and in many cases, inside of us. This is no less true |
| maintaining a decent level of personal hygiene, but by | | | | now than it was a thousand years ago. |
| itself cleanliness is not enough. We all ought to be | | | | Did you know that only one hundred years ago |
| more aware of where and how we come into | | | | tapeworm were sold and used as a weight loss aid? It |
| contact with these parasites in the first place. | | | | really doesn't bear thinking about does it? |
| Water borne parasites are very common in some | | | | One of the reasons that parasitic worms in particular |
| countries. Thousands of people die every year | | | | have been so successful is because they can be |
| because of a lack of clean drinking water. Drinking | | | | carried in the intestines for years without producing |
| surface water that is untreated can cause parasitic | | | | many noticeable symptoms at all. |
| infection, regardless of where you live. | | | | The best defence that we have available to us is very |
| It is an absolute myth that parasites can only be picked | | | | largely in our own hands, literally. Personal hygiene is |
| up in the third world or in places of extreme poverty. | | | | extremely important, with hand washing at number one |
| Almost everything we eat can carry parasites. This | | | | before preparing food. The food itself must be |
| includes fruit and vegetables as well as meat, fish and | | | | thoroughly washed before cooking as faecal matter |
| poultry. | | | | from birds and passing animals may well be present. |
| There are various estimates of the numbers of people | | | | Many people like their meat rare. This is a personal |
| that are carrying these various parasites. The lowest | | | | choice and fine as long as we understand the risks. An |
| estimate still represents 40% of the worlds' population, | | | | increase in tapeworm ingestion is also inevitable with |
| while others believe that the number could be as high | | | | the increasing consumption of raw, undercooked and |
| as 90% and more. | | | | lightly smoked fish. |