Health officials in Bali are insisting people should not be afraid to eat pork, despite reports of 20 people contracting meningitis after eating pork lawar in Bali’s Tabanan regency.
Tabanan Chief Medical Officer Dr. Nyoman Suratmika stresses the importance of cooking pork all the way through, to well-done before consumption.
“It must be cooked well-done, or til 100 degrees Celsius. In addition, when selecting meat for purchase, pick it from a place that is clean,” Suratmika said on Sunday, as quoted by Tribun Bali.
Symptoms of the pathogen Streptococcus Suis, which can cause bacterial meningitis, include nausea, dizziness, convulsions, muscle paralysis, and deafness. The pathogen has a natural reservoir in pigs.
On Saturday, 20 villagers from Sibang Kaja, Abiansemal, Bali contracted bacterial meningitis after eating the traditional Balinese dish, pork lawar. Meningitis is an inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord.
Testing from the Badung Department of Health confirmed the group positive for bacterial meningitis, according to Merdeka.
