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Food-borne infectious diseases from Survivor program copycat behaviors
Methods: To identify risk factors for potentially fatal foodborne infectious diseases after raw consumption of animals, case-series analyses were conducted on 54 cases of systemic infections following consumption of raw animals recommended as safe for consumption by Survivor series TV programming. Infections were confirmed by positive microscopic, serologic, or molecular diagnostics. Statistical significance was defined by P-values ≤ 0.05 with continuous variables analyzed by t-tests and categorical variables by Chi-squares (Χ2).
Results: 38 cases of neuroangiostrongyliasis (NAS) with eosinophilic meningoencephalitis and 16 cases of paragonimiasis (PG) with hemorrhagic pneumonitis followed consumption of raw animals infected with causative parasites, rat lungworms (Angiostrongylus cantonensis) and American lung flukes (Paragonimus kellicotti) respectively. The mean age of NAS cases was 21.5 years; mostly males (P = 0.039, Χ2) from Hawaii (P = 0.039, Χ2), 37% of whom consumed raw snails, larval slugs on raw greens, or frogs (P = 0.003, Χ2). The mean age of the PG patients was 27.3 years (range 12-71 years) with 1 death in a 71-year old male who frequently consumed raw crayfish. PG cases were mostly males (93%, P < 0.001, X2) from Missouri (P < 0.0001, Χ2) who consumed raw crayfish (63%, P < 0.0001, Χ2) while intoxicated (47%, P = 0.028, Χ2) on camping, paddling, and floating trips on Mississippi River tributaries (73%, P =0.028, X2).
Discussion: Risk factors for foodborne infectious diseases from Survivor copycat behaviors included male gender and consumption of raw animals while intoxicated outdoors. Recommended preventive interventions included proper preparation of self-harvested natural foods, wilderness survival training, and alcohol avoidance.
Conclusion: Survivor copycat behaviors resulted in significant risks for potentially fatal parasitic infections in young males consuming raw animals during outdoor experiences when intoxicated.
Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programsBasic medical science applied in public health
Environmental health sciences
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Identify potentially fatal food-borne infectious diseases following the consumption of raw animals recommended as safe to consume by Survivor programming.
Describe the demographic risk factors for persons most likely to consume raw animals recommended as safe to consume by Survivor programming.
Describe the behavioral risk factors for persons most likely to consume raw animals recommended as safe to consume by Survivor programming.
List safe and effective interventions to prevent the transmission of potentially fatal food-borne infectious diseases following the consumption of raw animals recommended as safe to consume by Survivor programming.
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have a master's degree in tropical medicine and a doctorate in public health; and I am a board-certified medical toxicologist with scientific interests in food-borne infectious diseases, especially parasitic diseases, and poisonings and have published extensively in these areas.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.