66-year-old Vietnamese man found with 1.2‑metre beef tapeworm in intestine

Doctors at Hospital 19‑8 in Vietnam performed a colonoscopy on a 66‑year‑old man who had experienced weeks of persistent digestive problems, including abdominal bloating, intermittent pain, nausea, loss of appetite and weight loss. During the procedure a 1.2‑metre Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm) was extracted, along with its head, preventing further growth.

The patient had a long‑standing habit of eating raw or undercooked beef dishes such as rare beef and beef‑based pho. Medical staff warned that untreated tapeworm infections can lead to serious complications such as intestinal blockage, perforation, bile duct inflammation, pancreatitis, severe anemia and chronic malnutrition. They advised thorough cooking of beef to at least 63 °C for whole cuts and 71 °C for minced meat, or deep freezing for several days, as well as strict hygiene practices to avoid future infections.