How to Avoid Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis or toxo for short mainly appears in HIV/AIDS patients. It affects the brain and central nervous system. Some symptoms of this disease are fever, headache, seizures, and nausea. Toxoplasmosis can be spread by eating undercooked meat or touching infected cat stool.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Make sure to thoroughly cook your meat. Use a meat thermometer to check if your meat is at 150 degrees F. If you don’t have it, check to see if the meat is not pink or red inside. If it is then the meat is not cooked fully.

2. If you have a cat, take special care with it. Wear gloves and a mask to clean out the litter. Throw out the litter outside right away to not leave behind any germs in the house. Wash your hands thoroughly. Also keep your cat indoors. If you let it go outside it can kill some animals and bring the germs home. Avoid having a stray cat. Buy one that is healthy.

3. Toxo usually stays in the form of cysts in your brain or muscles. This stays inactive until your immune system starts to weaken by HIV/AIDS.

4. For free referrals and more information call 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636).There are English and Spanish hotlines that are open 24 hours a day.

[Merriment]

on 8/2/2009 My husband learned a lot about Toxoplasmosis. It is some scary stuff. This is good information for avoiding the disease.

[botticelli728]

on 7/11/2009 Valuable info. 5*