Foodborne and Animal Contact Outbreak Investigations

The Connecticut Department of Public Health, Epidemiology and Emerging Infections Program collaborates with state partners, local health departments in CT, other state health departments, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to detect, investigate, control, and prevent foodborne disease outbreaks.

Connecticut participates in the CDC’s Foodborne Diseases Centers for Outbreak Response Enhancement (FoodCORE). The centers work together to develop new and better methods to detect, investigate, respond to, and control multistate outbreaks of foodborne diseases. Since 2012, Connecticut FoodCORE has hired students to provide additional epidemiologic capacity.

Backyard Live Poultry Safety

If you keep live poultry (chickens, ducks, geese, etc.) in your backyard, it's important to be aware that these animals come with potential health risks. Poultry may have germs, like Salmonella, that can make people sick like Tyler. Safe handling of backyard flocks is necessary to prevent illness and the CDC has some helpful tips.

This poster shows the number of people affected by germs carried by poultry, and simple ways to stay safe.

English: Backyard Flocks and Salmonella

Spanish: Las aves de corral domésticas y la Salmonella

Outbreak Data

The CDC captures national foodborne outbreak data from local and state public health departments then analyzes and makes it publicly available online using the BEAM (Bacteria, Enterics, Ameba, and Mycotics) Dashboard.

Additional information concerning collected data can be found on the following webpages:

Animal Contact Outbreak Surveillance System

Annual Summaries of Foodborne Outbreaks

Foodborne Disease Outbreaks - The 3 Types of Data Used to Link Illnesses to Contaminated Foods and Solve Outbreaks

Multistate Foodborne Outbreak Notices

Report to the Joint Standing Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly Having Cognizance of Matters Relating to Public Health - Foodborne Disease Outbreaks Originating from Public Eating Places - July 1, 2016

Surveillance for Foodborne Disease Outbreaks