Food-borne diseases : E. COLI 0157:H7 and the role of an environmental health officer.

Abstract

A large number or infections or intoxifications may be included under the definition of food borne-illness. The first introductory chapter will deal with an overview of food-borne illness in general. The rest of the dissertation will focus on E. coli 0157:H7 as an example of a food-borne zoonotic illness which has been of a major concern all round the world attributed mainly by undercooked ground beef and also raw unpasteurized milk. In the following chapters one would observe the modes of infection, routes of transmission, diagnosis, resulting symptoms, treatment and also recommended precautions needed to minimise this pathogen to the least. The role of an environmental health officer is of primary importance when dealing with prevention and control, this was clearly demonstrated in the worst recorded outbreak in European history between the year 1996-1997 were 20 people died after attending a church lunch at Wishaw, Scotland. Thanks to the environmental health department the source of contamination was identified and action was taken, giving closure to the case. The role of the environmental health officer will be outlined and further discussed in later chapters together with the necessary operating procedures required when tackling a food-borne illness outbreak.