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Disease of Foodborne Origin


Disease of Foodborne Origin in Washington State

DOH receives approximately 40 to 60 reports of foodborne outbreaks per year, involving approximately 400 to 700 ill persons.  Organisms causing foodborne outbreaks include norovirus, Salmonella, E. coli, S. aureus, C. perfringens, Campylobacter, V. parahaemolyticus and B. cereus.

Purpose of Reporting and Surveillance

  • To identify sources of transmission (e.g., a commercial product or public water supply) and to prevent further transmission from such sources.
  • When the source is a risk for only a few individuals (e.g., an animal or private meal), to inform those individuals how they can reduce their risk of exposure.
  • To identify cases that may be a source of infection for others (e.g., a food handler), and prevent further disease transmission.

Reporting Requirements

  • Health care providers: immediately notifiable to Local Health Jurisdiction
  • Hospitals: immediately notifiable to Local Health Jurisdiction
  • Laboratories: see disease-specific requirements
  • Local health jurisdictions: suspected or confirmed outbreaks are immediately notifiable to DOH Communicable Disease Epidemiology: 1-877-539-4344

Last update
October 2007

Disease of Foodborne Origin Resources

General Information

Foodborne
Outbreaks, 2006

(PDF format)

Foodborne Outbreak Reporting Forms

DOH Foodborne Outbreak Form
Part 1

(PDF format)
DOH Foodborne Outbreak Form
Part 2

(PDF format)
CDC "Fork and Spoon" Form
(PDF format)

Instructions for CDC Fork and Spoon Form
(PDF format)

Public Health and Health Care

Surveillance and Reporting Guidelines
(Web Format)

Charts of Common Agents Causing Foodborne Illness


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Communicable Disease Epidemiology
Office of Epidemiology
Washington State Department of Health
MS: K17-9, 1610 NE 150th St.
Shoreline, WA 98155-9701

Phone (206) 418-5500
FAX (206) 418-5515

24-hour contact (toll-free inside Washington State only) 1-877-539-4344
 

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