Thai authorities eye som tam as cause of liver parasite found in a third of university freshmen

Authorities in Thailand have expressed concern after around a third of freshmen at a university in Maha Sarakham province tested positive for liver fluke.

The parasite is commonly found in raw fish, which is commonly eaten in Thailand’s northeastern region, which led authorities to suspect the regional som tam dish using fermented fish.

According to the Bangkok Post, this has led to the local government moving to ensure better food hygiene at local eateries.

More than 4,000 freshmen infected with liver fluke

The shocking results were announced on Tuesday (7 July) by Thailand’s Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat.

They used urinary antigen test kits (UATs) to screen incoming freshmen at universities within the province.

At Mahasarakham University, 4,233 of 12,733 students screened tested positive for liver fluke.

Meanwhile, a total of 380 freshmen at Rajabhat Maha Sarakham University tested positive out of 1,922.

This is equivalent to 33% and 19%, respectively.

Both numbers are higher than the average for the province which is around 11%.

Authorities pushing for better food hygiene

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