Buenos Ayres province faces surge in trichinosis cases, CAZMA urges stricter safety measures

Health authorities in Buenos Ayres province, Argentina, report a rise in trichinosis infections across several localities. Silvia Cirello, director of the Provincial Food Safety Agency (CAZMA), called on producers and consumers to exercise heightened responsibility to prevent further cases.

Cirello advised buyers of cured meats, dry sausages and salted products to verify official labeling, warning that counterfeit labels are circulating. She reminded small‑scale pig farmers that they must be registered with the National Registry of Swine Production (RENSPA) and that every batch intended for consumption must be tested for Trichinella spiralis. Samples of about 100 g of diaphragm or entrails, kept refrigerated and unfrozen, are analysed daily with results typically delivered the same afternoon.

The agency also highlighted that other animals such as wild boar, puma and even horses used in meat processing can transmit the parasite. Home‑slaughtered products are permitted only for personal use; items for sale must come from approved establishments that have passed sanitary inspections. Cirello noted that dozens of people have been affected in neighboring towns and dispelled the myth that well‑kept pigs are automatically free of infection. CAZMA continues to offer monthly certified courses on safe food handling, both in‑person and online.