30% of Infections Diseases Transmitted Through Food

Almost one third (30%) of all infectious diseases reported to the Disease Surveillance Centres in Dublin and Belfast are caused by bugs transmitted through food.

In response to the findings, Safefood, the food safety promotion board, has launched a new all-Ireland study into Infectious Intestinal Disease (IID). The study hopes to identify the DNA of the bugs that cause gastroenteritis and food poisoning and will be first in the world to use DNA to measure the safety and quality of food.

Over a 12 month period, IID study will involve weekly follow ups of 100 patients in each of the 30 GP practices taking part in the study. The hope is to identify all cases and causes of gastrointestinal infection and to link those infections to specific bugs, so that food-related risks can be estimated. The study will be carried out in tandem with a UK-wide study, conducted in collaboration with the UK Food Standards Agency.

The IID study was launched at the All-island Infectious Intestinal Disease Conference in Clontarf Castle in Dublin last week.

Posted Monday 26th May 2008