We show that a higher incidence of campylobacteriosis is found in young children (age, <5 years) living in rural, compared with urban, areas. Association of this difference with particular animal sources was evaluated using multilocus sequence typing. This evaluation was achieved by comparing Campylobacter isolates originating from these children, retail poultry, and a range of animal sources by use of source attribution and phylogenetic analysis methods. The results indicate that chicken is a major source of infection in young urban children, although not in their rural counterparts, for which ruminant and other avian sources are more important.

In May 2000 a scout camp was held on an agricultural showground in New Deer, Aberdeenshire. There were 337 campers at the event, comprising 233 cubs, scouts, and venture scouts, and 104 adults. The event was abandoned early because of heavy rainfall. Twenty campers who became ill between 28 May and 3 June were confirmed as having E. coli O157 infection. Preliminary investigation did not suggest a food vehicle but did indicate environmental exposure at the camp as a risk factor. Subsequent investigations supported the hypothesis that transmission of E. coli O157 was from the environment to cases by contaminated hands, either directly from hand to mouth, or via food. As a result of the investigation the Aberdeenshire Council and the Scout Association jointly prepared interim guidelines to reduce the risk of E. coli O157 infection at scout camps.

Objectives. This study was designed to assess changes in perceived risk, cognitive intrusions and distress in women undergoing counselling for familial risk of developing breast cancer. Design. A longitudinal design in which 90 consecutive women attending a family history clinic were asked to indicate their concerns before counselling and then again 3 and 6 months post‐counselling. Method. Questionnaires included measures of thought content and intrusiveness, cancer specific distress (Cockburn, De Luise, Hurley, & Clover, 1992), a Visual Analogue scale (VAS) of perceived risk, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale (Zigmond & Snaith, 1983). Results. Sixty‐nine women agreed to take part in the study, with 49 completing all three sets of questionnaires. Before counselling, thought intrusiveness and HAD depression scores accounted for 69% of the variance in the measure of cancer specific distress. Women who dropped out of the study before the post‐counselling assessments reported higher levels of intrusiveness at baseline than those who completed the study. Perceived risk was only moderately related to actual risk post‐counselling and increases/ decreases in thought intrusiveness correlated positively with increases/decreases in both perceived risk and distress. Conclusions. Psychological distress is related to levels of perceived risk, a relationship which may be mediated by thought intrusiveness. It could be more appropriate for genetic counselling services to provide strategies for managing intrusiveness of worries rather than attempting to modify risk perceptions.

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