STOP Foodborne Illness Launches Initiative to Cultivate Greater Awareness Among Emergency Room Personnel about Foodborne Illness

    CHICAGO, IL, April 08, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- STOP Foodborne Illness, a national nonprofit public health organization dedicated to the prevention of illness and death from foodborne pathogens, has launched an initiative to cultivate greater awareness among emergency room personnel about foodborne illness.

"Too often we've heard devastating stories from families and individuals whose healthcare experience has led to tragedy. It is not uncommon for families to be told by providers to take their child home; that they have a "stomach flu"--despite having had bloody stools for successive days--or to follow up in a few days if things aren't better," says Deirdre Schlunegger, CEO of STOP Foodborne Illness.

"Emergency room physicians are usually the first to care for patients with symptoms of foodborne illness," she said. "STOP's mission in launching our new educational initiative is to encourage more testing for foodborne illness. It is critically important that emergency department physicians are educated to help properly identify foodborne illnesses early on. We believe that if more can be done initially, tragedies could be averted."

Schlunegger told Food Safety News, "Healthcare providers often do not recognize that a child's symptoms are due to foodborne illness, and appropriate tests are not ordered. Such delays in diagnosis can be devastating." Along with mature adults and immunocompromised persons such as cancer patients or transplant recipients, children younger than six are most vulnerable to foodborne illness.

Foodborne pathogens are a serious public health problem. Each year, 1 in 6 Americans become ill by consuming contaminated foods or beverages. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that each year 48 million people get sick, more than 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die as a result of foodborne illnesses.

CDC has stated, "Changes in human demographics and food preferences, changes in food production and distribution systems, microbial adaptation, and lack of support for public health resources and infrastructure have led to the emergence of novel as well as traditional foodborne diseases. With increasing travel and trade opportunities, it is not surprising that now there is a greater risk of contracting and spreading a foodborne illness locally, regionally, and even globally."

CDC further states, "Physicians and other health care professionals have a critical role in the prevention and control of food-related disease outbreaks."

In autumn 2015, STOP Foodborne Illness had their first crowd-sourced fundraiser to get this project started. In addition to several contributing individuals, Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce, of San Diego, CA, generously contributed $10,000. Thanks to their support, STOP Foodborne Illness will be exhibiting at the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Conference in Las Vegas, NV, October 16-19, 2016.

"This is an important platform for us," said Schlunegger. "Thousands of emergency medicine professionals from around the globe will be attending ACEP16. It's an immersive experience that goes beyond what typical medical conferences offer. It is the single most comprehensive consortium that brings together education, networking, policy development, and new technology. Our goal is to help physicians understand how to better relate to families dealing with these issues. By increasing awareness around foodborne illness, STOP will help physicians use and expand the knowledge they have to consider the possibility of, and help stop, foodborne illness."

For information or to make a donation to STOP Foodborne Illness, visit www.stopfoodborneillness.org or call 773-269-6555.

About STOP Foodborne Illness
STOP Foodborne Illness (STOP) is a national, nonprofit, public health organization dedicated to preventing illness and death from foodborne pathogens. STOP achieves its mission by advocating for sound public policies, building public awareness and assisting those impacted by foodborne illness.www.stopfoodborneillness.org. Subscribe to the STOP newsroom and follow on Facebook.

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