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Ill pork plant workers status is updated

Posted on: Wednesday, 25 February 2009, 14:23 CST

Officials say U.S. pork plant workers who more than a year ago developed a unique neurological disorder from pig brain mist still have continuing symptoms.

Researchers said the pork processing plant workers from Minnesota and Indiana have improved, but many have ongoing mild pain. The workers developed symptoms such as walking difficulties, weakness, numbness and tingling in their arms and legs, pain and fatigue.

All of the affected plant employees had worked in or near the area where compressed air was used to extract pig brains. All plants have discontinued the practice.

In the new study, researchers re-examined 24 of the workers and found sixteen of them had improved with treatment. Six workers who had no treatment also improved after no longer being exposed to the pig brain mist.

Neurologists have identified the illness as a new disorder that is a sensory predominant polyradiculoneuropathy affecting the nerves.

There are other autoimmune disorders where the trigger is not known, so this case -- with a known trigger -- could provide us with an opportunity to understand how an antigen can trigger the body's immune system to produce disease, said study author Dr. James Dyck of the Mayo Clinic.

The study will be presented in detail during the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology April 25-May 2 in Seattle.

Source: United Press International

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