New dissertation within One Health: We congratulate Rortana Chea!
Last changed: 14 March 2023
Rortana Chea successfully defended his thesis at the end of February 2023. In his research, Rortana has focused on the important One Health issue of inadequate food safety and in particular how to mitigate the risk for consumers to acquire food borne diseases through consumption of meat from traditional markets in Cambodia.
What is "the big idea" about your research?
"To reduce the risk of people contracting foodborne diseases," says Rortana.
Can you tell us more about your research and how it is linked to One Health?
"My main focus is on inadequate food safety and in particular how to mitigate the risk for consumers to acquire food borne diseases through consumption of meat from traditional markets in Cambodia," Rortana explains. "This is an important One Health issue in countries like Cambodia, where local food markets are important hubs of trade and commerce but also constitutes a risk for human health by being a source of zoonitic disease transmission."
What problem does your research help to solve in the short and long term?
"My results showed that chicken meat and pork in Cambodia were highly contaminated with food borne pathogens such as Salmonella spp," he says. "And this knowledge emphasize the importance of building knowledge and awareness among meat retailers and consumers on how to improve hygiene and handling of meat both at markets, but also within the households."
What is your plan for the near future?
"I will now go back to Cambodia and work at the National Animal Health and Production Research Institute, to continue the One Health work targeting foodborne disease surveillance."
We wish Rortana the best of luck in his future career!
Link to the thesis in SLU pub.
A food market Cambodia. Photo: Rortana Chea.