4 September 2012
Last updated at 09:15 GMT
Cats harbour the parasite
The disease is spread by direct contact with cats or eating contaminated food.
The Food Standards Agency will release an official report on Tuesday.
In a draft report it says there is a lack of data on the condition, making it difficult to estimate the real burden of the disease.
In about 80% of cases, a person who is infected will not be aware and will have no symptoms.
Others will develop mild flu-like symptoms, but will not need treatment.
But toxoplasmosis - the disease in humans - can cause serious complications in people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV and cancer.
And in pregnant women it can result in the baby being born blind or with brain damage. Three babies in every 100,000 are born with the condition in the UK.
Toxoplasmosis is a notifiable disease in Scotland but is neither a notifiable nor reportable disease in the rest of the UK.
Infection risk posed by cats revealed
Cats harbour the parasite
Experts
say more awareness is needed about a disease spread by cats after
figures show an estimated 350,000 people a year in the UK become
infected with toxoplasmosis.
Although only a minority of people - between one and two in
every 10 - has symptoms, advisers say extra measures to control the
disease may be needed. The disease is spread by direct contact with cats or eating contaminated food.
The Food Standards Agency will release an official report on Tuesday.
In a draft report it says there is a lack of data on the condition, making it difficult to estimate the real burden of the disease.
In about 80% of cases, a person who is infected will not be aware and will have no symptoms.
Others will develop mild flu-like symptoms, but will not need treatment.
But toxoplasmosis - the disease in humans - can cause serious complications in people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV and cancer.
And in pregnant women it can result in the baby being born blind or with brain damage. Three babies in every 100,000 are born with the condition in the UK.
Toxoplasmosis is a notifiable disease in Scotland but is neither a notifiable nor reportable disease in the rest of the UK.
Gloves advice
The culprit parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, can get into the food
chain via cats faeces causing contamination of soil, water and plants.
Humans may catch the infection from eating undercooked meat from animals harbouring toxoplasma or from contact with cat litter or contaminated soil.
Once infected, a person is immune from further infection for life.
The best way to avoid infection is to make sure you wear gloves when gardening or changing your cat's litter tray, wash fruit and vegetables before eating and cook meat thoroughly - although it is possible to still enjoy it rare, says the Food Standards Agency.
Pregnant women should also avoid contact with sheep and newborn lambs during the lambing season because there is a small risk that an infected sheep or lamb could pass the infection on at this time.
Sarah O'Brien, chair of the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food at the Food Standards Agency, said:"This report shows that there is more work to be done to estimate how big an issue toxoplasmosis is for the general population. I think we understand better the risks involved for those who are pregnant or have a weakened immune system which is why the FSA issues specific advice for these groups.
"However, as yet there is no evidence to suggest that people generally should change their eating habits, and I think the FSA is right to say that most of the population can continue to enjoy lamb cooked rare."
Humans may catch the infection from eating undercooked meat from animals harbouring toxoplasma or from contact with cat litter or contaminated soil.
Once infected, a person is immune from further infection for life.
The best way to avoid infection is to make sure you wear gloves when gardening or changing your cat's litter tray, wash fruit and vegetables before eating and cook meat thoroughly - although it is possible to still enjoy it rare, says the Food Standards Agency.
Pregnant women should also avoid contact with sheep and newborn lambs during the lambing season because there is a small risk that an infected sheep or lamb could pass the infection on at this time.
Sarah O'Brien, chair of the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food at the Food Standards Agency, said:"This report shows that there is more work to be done to estimate how big an issue toxoplasmosis is for the general population. I think we understand better the risks involved for those who are pregnant or have a weakened immune system which is why the FSA issues specific advice for these groups.
"However, as yet there is no evidence to suggest that people generally should change their eating habits, and I think the FSA is right to say that most of the population can continue to enjoy lamb cooked rare."
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