Seven-Year Walkerton Health Study Concludes

MEDIA RELEASE
http://pharmalicensing.com/public/press/view/1227800800_492ec0e0660d9/seven-year-walkerton-health-study-concludes

Release issued 27th November 2008

"Research findings from the Walkerton Health Study will benefit not only the community of Walkerton, but many others." - Dr. Bill Clark.

The Walkerton Health Study is a seven-year initiative, led by scientists and physicians from Lawson, LHSC and the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western, along with physicians from McMaster University. The Walkerton E.coli Long-Term (WEL) investigators have been monitoring over 4,500 people in Walkerton, Ontario for medical difficulties as a result of the E. coli outbreak in Walkerton's water in May 2000.

2008 marks the final year of the study funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Year seven continued to monitor for health outcomes such as renal complications, hypertension, heart disease and cancer, as well as a more detailed screening battery of questions for females with pregnancies to detect any relationship between illness at the time of the water contamination and later development of hypertension in pregnancy. Between March 2002 and August 2008, 4,561 residents of Walkerton and the surrounding area participated in the study. A copy of the 2008 final report can be downloaded from: www.lhrionhealth.ca/feature/Walkerton.pdf

According to Dr. Bill Clark, Chair of the Operations and Research Committee of the Walkerton Health Study, resident participation has resulted in the identification of individuals with silent health conditions that are being successfully treated. "Major recognition for the success of this seven-year, longitudinal study must be directed to the participants. These members of the Walkerton community and surrounding area have freely given of themselves to participate over an extended period of time in an intrusive and invasive clinical and experimental study, following a tragic set of circumstances. The annual town hall meetings and daily interactions in the clinic provided the opportunity for community input that shaped the focus of the annual screening study. It has been a privilege to participate with these individuals, whose efforts will result in improved clinical outcomes and significant new research findings that will benefit not only their community but many others."

Congratulations to the WEL Investigators on the successful completion of the seven year Walkerton Health Study - Drs. W. Clark, A. Garg, J. Howard, D. Matsell, L. Moist, M. Salvadori and R. Suri. The dedication and compassion of these Lawson scientists and LHSC clinicians is an example of the first class research and care London has to offer.