Last Updated on May 23, 2024
What is Yersinia Enterocolitica?
Yersinia enterocolitica is a bacterium that can be found in raw or undercooked pork. The CDC estimates 
that the intestinal disease known as yersiniosis causes 117,000 illnesses, 640 hospitalizations, and 35 deaths each year in the United States. Since Yersinia bacteria are most often found in pigs, most people become infected by eating raw or undercooked pork, or through contact with a person who has prepared a pork product, such as chitlins. Children are infected more often than adults.
Preventing the Spread of Yersinia Enterocolitica
These viruses can spread by the following means :
- Eating contaminated food, especially raw or undercooked pork
- Contact with a person who has prepared a pork product, such as chitlins.
- For example, caretakers who handle contaminated food and do not wash their hands properly before handling a child or the child’s toys, bottles, or pacifiers
- Contact with infected animals or their feces
- Person-to-person contact, such as caretakers who do not wash their hands properly after changing the diaper of a child with yersiniosis
- Occasionally, people become infected by drinking contaminated milk or untreated water
The primary method to prevent yersiniosis is to avoid eating raw or undercooked pork. Cook pork thoroughly , to its recommended internal temperatures. Practice regular hand hygiene and surface disinfection, especially if handling raw chitlins . Prevent cross-contamination by keeping surfaces used for raw meat away from fruits and vegetables. Carefully clean all cutting boards, countertops, and utensils with soap and hot water after preparing raw meat. Consume only pasteurized milk and milk products, such as soft cheese, ice cream, and yogurt. Dispose of animal poop in a sanitary manner.
Get Additional Protection with Germicidal UV Disinfection
In addition to the above preventative measures, Germicidal Ultraviolet (UV-C) surface disinfection can inactivate Yersinia Enterocolitica in many applications. Our products use STER-L-RAY® Germicidal UV-C Lamps producing ultraviolet wavelengths at 254 nanometers, the region of germicidal effectiveness most destructive to harmful microorganisms.
Restaurants, retailers, and meat processing facilities can harbor Yersinia bacteria. These applications will benefit by adding UV-C surface disinfection and water purification to their regular sanitizing procedures. View our application-specific page on UV-C in Meat Processing.
Yersinia Enterocolitica: Classification & UV-C Dose for Inactivation
| Organism: | Alternate Name: | Type: | Disease: | UV Dose*: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yersinia enterocolitica | Y. enterocolitica | Bacteria | Yersiniosis | 4.20 mJ/cm2 |
Where is it found?
Contaminated Pork
Contaminated Water
Contaminated Skin
Animals
What can it infect?
Intestines
How Does it Spread?
Eating Meat
Drinking Water
Touching Feces
Touching Animals
Yersinia Enterocolitica Symptoms
Most people infected with Yersinia experience the following symptoms:
- fever
- abdominal pain
- diarrhea, which is often bloody
- pain on the right side of the abdomen, which may be confused with appendicitis.
Sources on Yersinia Enterocolitica:
The above information can be found on the following pages. Please read complete articles to learn more.
* Nominal Ultraviolet dosage necessary to inactivate better than 99% of microorganisms. See sources below.
- Sensitivity of Bacteria, Protozoa, Viruses, and Other Microorganisms to Ultraviolet Radiation. Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Volume 126, Article No. 126021. August 20, 2021.
Learn More & Shop Our Products to Inactivate Yersinia Enterocolitica
Made in the USA from U.S. and imported parts, Water Purification and Air & Surface Disinfection models from Atlantic Ultraviolet Corporation® are constructed of the highest quality materials and use germicidal UV-C lamps to disinfect water, inactivating microorganisms like Yersinia enterocolitica.
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View our infographic on Yersinia Enterocolitica
