Outbreak Detection: Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigations

Outbreaks are detected in a variety of ways at the Minnesota Department of Health.

• Routine surveillance interviews
  • Some outbreaks are detected through routine surveillance activities that include interviewing all persons who are diagnosed with a reportable disease. 
    
     
  • An investigation is initiated when multiple cases report a common exposure, such as eating a common food item, eating at a common restaurant, or having contact with an identical water source, daycare, or school. 
    
     
• Reports of suspected foodborne illness
  • The Minnesota Department of Health receives reports of suspected foodborne illness from the general public through local health departments or through the MDH foodborne illness hotline.
    • Reporting Suspected Foodborne and Waterborne Illness
      Please contact the Minnesota Department of Health if you suspect you have a foodborne or waterborne illness. MDH will relay the necessary information to the appropriate local health authorities.
      
       
  • Healthcare providers may report suspected foodborne illness outbreaks if they see an unexpected number of patients with gastrointestinal illness.
    
     
  • Restaurants, daycare providers, schools, and health care facilities (i.e., hospitals, long-term care facilities) may also report outbreaks to MDH.