Prevention & Control

The best way to prevent people from getting ascariasis from humans or pigs is to always do the following:

• Avoid ingesting soil that may be contaminated with human or pig feces, including where human fecal matter (“night soil”), wastewater, or pig manure is used to fertilize crops.
• Wash your hands with soap and  water before handling food.
• Wash your hands with soap and water after touching or handling pigs, cleaning pig pens, or handling pig manure.
• Teach children the importance of washing hands to prevent infection.
• Supervise children around pigs, ensuring that they do not put unwashed hands in their mouths.
• Wash, peel, or cook all raw vegetables and fruits before eating, particularly those that have been grown in soil that has been fertilized with manure.

Transmission of Ascaris lumbricoides infection to others in a community setting can be prevented by:

• Not defecating outdoors.
• Effective sewage disposal systems.

More on: Handwashing

Ascaris suum eggs left in the soil from pigs can survive for up to 10 years. The eggs are very hardy and can survive extreme environmental conditions like freezing and extreme heat. It is virtually impossible to completely remove Ascaris suum eggs from the environment where an infected pig has been present. Consult a veterinarian for recommendations on preventing and controlling Ascaris suum in your pigs.