In my opinion, the only good steak of any kind is a rare one.

History accounts show that the more directly people are exposed to animals that carry the E. granulosus, the greater the risk. It only makes sense. Thanks for the links, Lee.

central utah 1980
http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/116/3/463

California
http://www.jstor.org/pss/3277559

http://www.jwildlifedis.org/cgi/content/abstract/10/3/225

and world distrubution

http://www.cdfound.to.it/html/echi1.htm

I apologize for having sent the article regarding Echinococcus granulosa, which I had not read before, as a comment to Tom’s more recent post about this disease. I had read, but did not add to the comments in the earlier article regarding this parasite by Duvel as I felt more learned individuals were doing that; thus I missed Greg’s already having sent the same article from a Montana paper. I shall try to be more attentive in the future. I thought I was sending an article that might be of interest.

“Frequency
United States

Despite the rise in occurrence, echinococcosis remains a very rare disease (<1 case per 1 million inhabitants) in the continental United States. Northern Alaska has endemic areas of E granulosus, but the frequency of infection remains low (<1 case per 100,000 inhabitants).
International

Echinococcosis is also unusual in northern Europe. The endemic areas are the Mediterranean countries, the Middle East, the southern part of South America, Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, and southern parts of Africa; the latter 5 are intensive endemic areas. The incidence of CE in endemic areas ranges from 1-220 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, while the incidence of AE ranges from 0.03-1.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, making it a much more rare form of echinococcosis. Infestation with E vogeli is the most rare form of echinococcosis and is reported mainly in the southern parts of South America."
(CE=cystic echinococcosis)
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/178648-overview

Mortality/Morbidity

* Morbidity is usually secondary to free rupture of the echinococcal cyst (with or without anaphylaxis), infection of the cyst, or dysfunction of affected organs. Examples of dysfunction of affected organs are biliary obstruction, cirrhosis, bronchial obstruction, renal outflow obstruction, increased intracranial pressure secondary to mass, and hydrocephalus secondary to cerebrospinal fluid outflow obstruction.
* In CE, mortality is secondary to anaphylaxis, systemic complications of the cysts (eg, sepsis, cirrhosis, respiratory failure, or operative complications.
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/178648-overview

Now, the facts are, in areas where there is abundant interaction with wolves, foxes, dogs and humans, there is likehood of endemic prevalence….and even though Hydatid disease (which is caused by this parasite), is not fatal in itself, it contributes to fatal complications, such as sepsis, respiratory failure, etc…..and is definitely a threat to humans in the regions where it is found…..and now, that is Idaho and the surrounding areas where wolves have spread it.

And then the contradiction >

” The worm, Echinococcus granulosa, which had not previously been found in Idaho or the other states, is now present in a large portion of the Northern Rockies’ wolf population and wildlife officials say it is not likely to go away. ”

” Foreyt said it is likely wolves transplanted in central Idaho and Yellowstone National Park in the 1990s were infected with the worms. Those wolves were given medication to kill any potential parasites, but the drugs may not have been 100 percent effective. Drew also said it’s reasonable to assume transplanted wolves brought the worms, but wildlife officials will never know for sure.”

One of the political contradictions that doesn’t look like a contradiction, ha ha.. Just some good bullshit going on..

Now that is some darned good science if i ever saw it before… Funny, we know about every other filthy little bug or worm which has been around in Idaho, but now this is just showing up right now and somehow we missed it the last eighty years… And Canada has 25 cases of it in humans annually but not one in Idaho that we know of since 1937… A heck of a lotta deer and elk have gone down the human pie hole in that time.. That worm was not here is why no one caught it..

Many hunters eat the Liver, the heart, and I have to, also having been in the guts of these elk and deer over 50 times I never noticed any of those cists, and i would have, as well I eat my meat blood rare. and I never caught this either, or any thing else.

Now I cook all meat well done.

This story reminds me of one of my hero’s I watched over the years, Sherman Skolnick, now Sherman was a city man, and he was a pit bull for the truth and the law.. He often exposed judges lawyers, and politicians for their illegal activities and back door deals.. He was responsible for many of them being charged, convicted, and sent to prison.. Sherman was belittled by the Media, and government paid back peddlers just like George Dovel and Val Geist…

Sherman was hated by everyone who hated the truth, and so is Dovel and Geist… Unless you believe in the truth over the agenda… Then you appreciate them..

Lee is a liar.

We both know how this parasite could and will infect wolves and ungulates, and cause serious problems for anyone who could get infected, yet you and he both want to belittle the question of transmission, just for the sake of preventing your “precious” wolves from suffering the “indignity” of being recognized carriers of a deadly strain of parasite…Could it be, simply because you could be sure that it would not infect you, knowing that you would not be in the same area where there are wolves? Or do you just not want the wolf to be a recognized carrier….By the way, have you actually read the journals?

He also refers to the lack of hydatid disease in Minnesota as proof. Two questions. Have the worms been found in Minnesota wolves and referring back to what I just said, if it is so difficult to diagnose in humans, we may not know.

It is also unfortunate that Drew, Forseyt, Barker and others can’t leave the U.S. and Canada long enough to talk with colleagues in other parts of the world, i.e. Finland, Sweden, Russia and other parts of Eastern Europe where they’ve dealt with this since forever and find out that it presents bigger problems than what officials are telling us here. Are they afraid of the truth?

With all this said, why is it so damned important to repeat, repeat, repeat that the risk is minimal. It’s like the same crap we hear about being attacked by a bear, or wolf, or coyote? Sure the chances are not great but it does happen. So go tell the first human who contracts hydatid disease that we didn’t think it necessary to be honest with the population and tell them there are risks.