Foodborne and Animal Contact Outbreak Investigations in Connecticut
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.
Backyard Flocks and Salmonella
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 National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS) Dashboard.
Additional
information concerning collected data can be found on the following webpages:
Animal Contact Outbreak Surveillance System
Annual Summaries of Foodborne Outbreaks
Publications That Contain Data from the Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System, 2008-2014
Surveillance for Foodborne Disease Outbreaks
Selected Outbreak Investigation Summaries by Year
2024
Persistent Strains of Campylobacter jejuni (REPDBR01) Linked to Pet Store Puppies
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Charcuterie Meats
2023
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Cantaloupes
First Known Outbreak of E. Coli (ETEC) in Connecticut, May 2022
School Norovirus Outbreak in Connecticut, 2023
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Small Turtles
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Ground Beef
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Backyard Poultry
2022
Salmonella Outbreaks Linked to Backyard Poultry
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Pet Bearded Dragons
2021
Norovirus Outbreak at a Food Service Establishment
An Outbreak of Clostridium Perfringens Associated with a Connecticut Healthcare Facility
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Seafood
Salmonella Outbreak with Unknown Food Source
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Raw Frozen Breaded Stuffed Chicken Products
Connecticut Leads Coordinated Investigation and Response to Contaminated Cheese
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Backyard Poultry
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Ground Turkey
Listeria Outbreak Linked to Queso Fresco Made by El Abuelito Cheese Inc.
2020
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Small Turtles
Outbreak of Salmonella Stanley Infections Linked to Wood Ear Mushrooms
Outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis Infections Linked to Peaches
Outbreak of Salmonella Newport Infections Linked to Onions
Outbreak of Salmonella Linked to Backyard Poultry
An Outbreak of Sapovirus Associated with the Consumption of Raw Oysters
Outbreak of Salmonella Infections Linked to Small Pet Turtles
2019
Outbreak of Multidrug-resistant Campylobacter Infections Linked to Contact with Pet Store Puppies
Outbreak of Salmonella Infections Linked to Cut Fruit
An Outbreak of Norovirus Gastroenteritis Associated with a School Event, Connecticut, 2019
Outbreak of Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella Infections Linked to Contact with Pig Ear Dog Treats
Outbreak of Salmonella Infections Linked to Whole, Fresh Papayas Imported from Mexico
Norovirus Outbreaks at a Food Service Establishment, Connecticut 2018-2019
Salmonella Infections Linked to Backyard Poultry
Outbreak of E. coli Infections Linked to Flour
Salmonella Infections Linked to Frozen Raw Tuna
2018
Investigation of a Norovirus Outbreak at a Summer Camp, Connecticut, 2018
Investigation of a Norovirus Outbreak at a Connecticut University, 2018
Outbreak of E. coli Infections Linked to Romaine Lettuce
Outbreak of Salmonella Infections Linked to Ground Beef
Outbreak of Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella Infections Linked to Raw Turkey Products
Outbreak of Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella Infections Linked to Raw Chicken Products
Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Mbandaka Infections Linked to Kellogg's Honey Smacks Cereal
Multistate Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections Linked to Chopped Romaine Lettuce
Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Infections Linked to Kratom
Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium Infections Linked to Dried Coconut
2017
Campylobacteriosis Outbreak at a Wine and Food Festival Detected Using SaTScan™ - Connecticut, 2017
Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Infections Linked to Coconut Tree Brand Frozen Shredded Coconut
Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Agbeni Infections Linked to Pet Turtles, 2017
Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Investigations - United States, 2017
Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Kiambu and Salmonella Thompson Infections Linked to Imported Maradol Papayas
Multistate Outbreaks of Human Salmonella Infections Linked to Live Poultry in Backyard Flocks, 2017
Multistate Outbreak of Listeriosis Linked to Soft Raw Milk Cheese Made by Vulto Creamery
2016
Investigation of Salmonellosis Among Attendees of a Pig Roast, Connecticut, 2016
Multistate Outbreak of Human Salmonella Infections Linked to Live Poultry in Backyard Flocks
Multistate Outbreak of Listeriosis Linked to Frozen Vegetables
2015
Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Poona Infections Linked to Imported Cucumbers
2014
Investigation of a Norovirus Outbreak at a Summer Camp - Connecticut, 2014
Outbreak of Salmonella Associated with a Restaurant-Connecticut, May 2014
Outbreak of Salmonella Newport Infections Linked to Cucumbers — United States, 2014
Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis Infections Linked to Bean Sprouts
Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Infections Linked to Organic Sprouted Chia Powder
2013
Krasnitski J, Phan Q, Mullins J, et al. A Tale of Two Receptions: Two Norovirus Outbreaks at a Banquet Facility-Connecticut, 2013. International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases 2015 poster and oral presentation abstracts. Emerg Infect Dis. 2015 Sep. Pages 312-3 https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/pdfs/ICEID2015.pdf.
Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Investigations — United States, 2013
2012
Investigation of a Norovirus Outbreak in a Connecticut University, 2012
Investigation of Two Multistate Outbreaks of Salmonellosis, Connecticut, 2012
Other Resources and Helpful Sites
For local health departments
- CT Reportable Infectious Diseases Reference Manual
- USDA Resources for Public Health Partners: Foodborne Illness Investigation (USDA-FSIS)
For the medical community (physicians, hospitals, laboratories)
Disease reporting requirements/forms
Suspected foodborne outbreaks are Category 1 reportable condition. If you suspect a foodborne outbreak, contact:
For the public
- A-Z Index for Foodborne Illness (CDC)
- USDA Recalls and Public Health Alerts (USDA-FSIS)
- FDA Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts (FDA)
If you have a complaint about a food service establishment, contact:
- Your local health department
- The Connecticut Department of Public Health, Food Protection Program (860-509-7297)
This page last updated 01/19/2024.