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New research into social perceptions of E. coli O157
risk in the Grampian region has been undertaken in a bid to better
understand why the area has one of the world's highest rates of the
potentially deadly infection. Hundreds of farmers, countryside visitors,
and people living in the countryside, as well as scientists, medics,
regulators and policy makers have been interviewed as part of the project
to enhance knowledge of the bug which strikes about 50 people a year in the
region, out of a population of approximately half a million.
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(Media-Newswire.com) - New research into social perceptions of E. coli O157
risk in the Grampian region has been undertaken in a bid to better
understand why the area has one of the world’s highest rates of the
potentially deadly infection.
Hundreds of farmers, countryside visitors, and people living in the
countryside, as well as scientists, medics, regulators and policy makers
have been interviewed as part of the project to enhance knowledge of the
bug which strikes about 50 people a year in the region, out of a population
of approximately half a million.
The research conducted by Dr Colette Jones, School of Geosciences,
University of Aberdeen is part of a three year Rural Economy and Land Use ( RELU ) project: 'Reducing Escherichia E. coli O157
risk in rural communities' which brings together a large team of
researchers from across the UK including Bangor, Manchester, and London
Universities led by Professor Ken Killham, Chair
of Soil Science at the University of Aberdeen.
Gathering crucial findings from disciplines including geography, economics,
immunology and soil science, the project will develop scientific models for
UK
authorities to assess and manage the risk of the bug in rural communities.
Dr Jones will showcase the research to the public this week ( Wednesday 5 November ) in her presentation Muck, money
and mortality: views of E. coli O157 risk in rural areas, which takes place
as part of the University
of Aberdeen's
Institute for Rural Research ( IRR ) lunchtime seminar series.
Dr Jones said: "Our research compares perceptions of E. coli O157 in
the Grampian region with North Wales and
aims to gain some understanding of how different people from different
walks of life view the infection and their personal risk.
"Developing a profile on public views of E. coli O157 plays a key role
in assessing the social factors which influence how people reduce risk.
Over 1900 people in Grampian and North Wales have been surveyed so far
along with numerous stakeholders from key organisations
including Health Protection Scotland, NHS Grampian, Aberdeenshire
Council, SEPA and the Scottish
Agricultural College.
Dr Jones continues: "Two early findings from the survey are the
extreme contrast of experiences and views on the bug, and the feeling that
some people are more susceptible to infection than others. My seminar
will give examples of the diversity of local opinion on the infection and
show the wide fluctuation of E. coli O157 risk; how it can suddenly
flourish into an outbreak or into the media."
Dr Jones' seminar Muck, money and mortality: views of E. coli O157 risk in
rural areas will take place on Wednesday 5 November between 1-2pm in room
G15, St Mary's, Elphinstone Road, Old
Aberdeen. The seminar is free and open to the public. Prior
registration is not required.
For full listings of the speakers presenting during the Institute of Rural
Research lunchtime seminar series visit http://www.abdn.ac.uk/irr/Seminars.html
or contact David Watts ( d.watts@abdn.ac.uk ).
The University
of Aberdeen's
Institute for Rural Research specialises in
theoretical and applied rural research which promotes inter-disciplinary
approaches to complex research and practical policy issues.
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