Page content: What is it? | What are the symptoms? | Where is it found? | How does it spread? | Inadequate cooking | Cross contamination | Person-to-person spread | What should I do if I have it? | Can I still work? | How do I stop spreading it to my family? | How can I avoid getting it?

What is Yersiniosis?

Yersiniosis is a type of gastroenteritis (gastro) caused by the (germ) bacterium Yersinia. Yersiniosis can affect anyone, however, it is more common in young children.

What are the symptoms of Yersiniosis?

The most common symptoms of this disease are diarrhoea, fever, and vomiting.

After infection it usually takes between three and seven days before you become ill. To trace the cause of the illness, it is necessary to know what you ate and drank and where you were in the week before you became ill.

Illness may last several weeks.

Where are Yersinia found?

Yersinia bacteria are found in wild, farm and pet animals and birds, particularly chickens and pigs.

How does Yersiniosis spread?

Yersiniosis occurs when Yersinia bacteria are taken in by mouth and this may happen in any of the following ways.

Inadequate cooking

Yersinia bacteria are often present in uncooked meat, particularly poultry and pork. When the raw meat is prepared for human consumption and is not adequately cooked, the bacteria may survive and infect people who eat it. Unpasteurised milk may sometimes be contaminated with Yersinia bacteria.

top of page

Cross-contamination

Cross-contamination is the spread of bacteria from something that is contaminated with bacteria to something that is not.

Yersinia can spread when uncooked foods that are contaminated with the bacteria cross-contaminate ready-to-eat foods.

Raw foods should always be considered to be contaminated. To avoid cross-contamination, raw foods should be handled and stored separately from cooked or ready-to-eat food.

Person-to-person spread

People with yersiniosis have Yersinia bacteria in their faeces. If these people do not wash their hands after going to the toilet, then contaminated hands can spread the bacteria to surfaces and objects which will be touched by other people. Contaminated hands can also spread the bacteria to food which may be eaten by other people.

Hands can also become contaminated with bacteria when a person changes the nappy of an infant infected with yersiniosis.

People and animals can carry Yersinia bacteria in their faeces without having any symptoms. These people and animals can still pass the disease on to others.

Pets, farm animals and contaminated drinking water can also spread Yersinia bacteria.

I think I may have Yersiniosis - what should I do?

If you have symptoms of yersiniosis, report them to your doctor immediately. This will ensure that you receive proper treatment and advice and that steps are taken to reduce the spread of the disease.

Can I still work?

Food handlers, child care workers and health care workers with yersiniosis must not work until symptoms have stopped.

Children must not attend child care centres, kindergartens or school until symptoms have stopped.

How can I stop spreading it to my family?

In your household, the risk of spreading Yersiniosis can be reduced. It is very important that people with Yersiniosis or gastroenteritis do not prepare or handle food which will be eaten by other people, and that no one else shares their towel or face washer.

How can I avoid getting Yersiniosis?

By following the guidelines below, everyone can do something to avoid getting yersiniosis.