MRSA Activists Declare MRSA An Epidemic On World MRSA Day

Main Category: MRSA / Drug Resistance
Article Date: 07 Oct 2009 - 3:00 PDT

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The Chicago-based non-profit organization, MRSA Survivors Network launched the first inaugural World MRSA Day event on Oct. 1st at Loyola University Chicago with great success. MRSA activists came from across the U.S. to participate and included MRSA survivors and MRSA victim family members, world-renowned epidemiologists, nurses, infection preventionists, hospital association officials and state legislators.

The 2009 theme for World MRSA day was "You can not Change what you do not Acknowledge".

MRSA activists called for world unity and immediate action by world leaders and health organizations to stop the spread of MRSA and to finally declare MRSA an epidemic and pandemic.

"It was very exciting to see such a group of caring and concerned activists come together. Those who had lost loved ones or who were egregiously injured by MRSA courageously told their stories and many in the audience were brought to tears. This had an incredible impact on those who attended this historic event. This is a human rights issue also," states Jeanine Thomas, founder of World MRSA Day.

Jeanine Thomas, with Dr. William Jarvis, President of Jason and Jarvis Associates, a world-renowned MRSA expert and formerly with the CDC, took questions from the media during the international press conference.

The 2009 Sponsors; 3M, StaphAseptic, Cepheid, Pfizer, Clorox, Abbott Molecular and bioMerieux became true MRSA champions and heroes when they stepped up to sponsor this inaugural, historic event to raise MRSA awareness and save lives.

It is the two predominant global activists who are leading the way. Jeanine Thomas, founder of MRSA Survivors Network and Derek Butler, chairman of MRSA Action UK have joined forces to lead the fight, to push for change and demand a proactive approach to controlling MRSA. They are also raising the alarm concerning antimicrobial resistance. International health organizations have stated: "Jeanine Thomas is changing the world of infection control."

Other World MRSA Day events were held at Bedford Hospital NHS in Bedford, England and in Salt Like City, Utah. Other activists will hold events throughout the month of October, World MRSA Awareness Month.

MRSA Survivors Network initiated the U.S. Senate Resolution to designate Oct. 2nd World MRSA Day, and October World MRSA Awareness Month.

Source: MRSA Survivors Network