The danger posed by mass poultry farming!

A new study by researchers at the University of Oxford has found that modern commercial poultry farms may be causing a dramatic increase in the spread of Campylobacter, a dangerous bacteria linked to food poisoning, sepsis and, in some cases, bowel cancer.

The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that the prevalence of Campylobacter in commercially raised chickens has increased by almost 100-fold in the past 35 years.

According to the researchers, the bacteria, which is commonly found in contaminated or undercooked chicken, is the leading cause of bacterial food poisoning in the UK.

Last year, the country reported around 70,000 cases. Although most patients recover within a week, experts warn that severe infections can be life-threatening and are also linked to an increased risk of bowel cancer.

The Food Hygiene Certification Agency says Campylobacter infections are responsible for around 100 deaths in the UK each year. Government figures also show that the number of patients reporting the illness, which causes symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal pain, has increased by almost a third since 2016.

The study suggests that factory farm environments create conditions that allow the bacteria to spread rapidly among chickens before they reach the supermarket.

The researchers say the study provides new evidence that human-induced environmental changes, including intensive farming practices, can contribute to the spread and outbreak of infectious diseases.

They call for food safety, improvements in poultry farm management practices and emphasis on proper washing and cooking of chicken to reduce the risk of infection.

Source: Samaa TV.