

Multistate and Nationwide Foodborne Outbreak Investigations: A Step-by-Step Guide



Steps in Investigating Foodborne Outbreaks

A foodborne outbreak investigation goes through several steps. They are described here in order, but in reality investigations are dynamic and several steps may happen at the same time.

  1. Detecting a Possible Outbreak
  2. Defining and Finding Cases
  3. Generating Hypotheses about Likely Sources
  4. Testing the Hypotheses
  5. Finding the Point of Contamination
  6. Controlling an Outbreak
  7. Deciding an Outbreak is Over

Steps in Investigating Foodborne Outbreaks [PDF - 1 page]

Steps in an outbreak investigation. 1.Detecting a possible outbreak 2.Finding cases in an outbreak 3.Generating hypotheses through interviews 4.Test hypotheses through analytic studies and lab testing. 5.Solve Point of contamination and original source of outbreak vehicle 6.Controlling outbreak though recalls, facility improvements and industry collaboration. 7.Deciding an outbreak is over.