The gulf between our fears and the facts of this E coli story may put us in greater danger, says risk consultant David Ropeik
The outbreak of foodborne disease in Europe offers an interesting lesson in the psychology of risk perception. To be sure, the danger from this outbreak is real. It has killed 18 people so far and infected more than 2,000, hundreds of whom may suffer lifelong kidney damage. Cases have been recorded in 10 countries, but all were infected in northern Germany. In addition, this appears to be a new and more dangerous strain, a reminder of the constant battle medicine and public health must wage against the phenomenal ability of germs to mutate to resist our controls
Read more>> http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2011/jun/03/e-coli-food-poisoning-outbreak
