Anklam, Germany - Trichina worms, which infect pigs and cause a nasty rheumatic illness in humans, have returned to Germany, animal-health officials north of Berlin said Friday.

Trichinosis infects people who have undercooked pork containing the nematodes.

The worms were found at a slaughterhouse in a pig from a private home, veterinarian Holger Vogel said in Anklam.

Many area householders still keep pig-sties and raise pigs at home.

He said the worms appeared to have been spread by rodents from nearby western Poland, where the nematodes are rife. It has spread to wild animals in the Western Pomerania area.

Decades ago, Germany wiped out the disease in domestic animals, but it is still common in developing nations. (dpa)