Yersiniosis
(nonplague yersiniosis)

What is yersiniosis?
Nonplague yersiniosis is a bacterial disease that produces fever, watery diarrhea, and stomach pain that can mimic appendicitis. It is caused by bacteria called Yersinia. Yersiniosis is more often reported in young children than adults.

How do you get it?
You get yersiniosis by eating or drinking food or water contaminated by feces from infected persons, farm animals, or household pets (especially sick puppies and kittens). The bacteria have been found in contaminated raw milk, ice-cream, tofu, pork and pork products, shellfish, unpasteurized chocolate milk, and lakes and streams contaminated by feces. Person-to-person spread is rare.

What are the symptoms of yersiniosis?
The predominant symptoms of yersiniosis are fever, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, which may occasionally be bloody. Other symptoms may include arthritis, headache, eye pain, throat pain when swallowing, loss of appetite, and vomiting.

When do symptoms start?
Symptoms usually start 3 to 7 days after infection with the bacteria.

For how long is a person contagious?
An infected person is contagious for at least as long as the symptoms last (usually 2 to 3 weeks). However, some people with yersiniosis continue to be infectious for weeks or months, even after the diarrhea has ended.

What is the treatment for yersiniosis?
Most persons get well on their own without treatment. Severe infections and infections in young children with diarrhea are usually treated with antibiotics.

How do you keep from getting it?
Do not drink raw milk or untreated water from lakes, ponds, or streams.

Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet, after animal contact, and before handling food.

Dispose of dog and cat feces promptly in a sanitary manner.

Protect water supplies from animal and human feces.

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