Pig Tapeworm – from gut to brain

About this episode

This episode discusses the pig tapeworm Taenia solium and its impact on human health, particularly epilepsy.

A worm that can cause epilepsy ? Meet Taenia solium — the pig tapeworm that travels from gut to brain, causing seizures and preventable epilepsy in millions. In this episode of Science in 5, Dr Bernadette Abela explains how this parasite spreads when pigs eat human feces and humans consume contaminated food or water — and what we can do to stop it. Learn how cooking meat properly, improving hygiene, and vaccinating pigs can break the cycle.

People in this episode

Guest: Dr Bernadette Abela

Topics covered

• pig tapeworm
• epilepsy
• parasite
• hygiene
• food safety
• preventable diseases

Keywords

• pig tapeworm
• Taenia solium
• epilepsy
• seizures
• hygiene
• cooking meat
• vaccinating pigs

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: WHO - World Health Organization

Products: Taenia solium

More episodes of Science in 5

• Polio: 99.9% Defeated. What Will It Take to End It for Good? · January 16, 2026 · 6 min
• Little lungs, big risks: The RSV threat to infants · September 25, 2025 · 4 min
• The Race to Stop Cholera Before It's Too Late · September 10, 2025 · 6 min
• Drowning: A silent public health threat · August 4, 2025 · 6 min
• Air pollution damages young brains · July 2, 2025 · 6 min
• The Gift of Blood -- Why It Matters · June 13, 2025 · 5 min