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Foodborne Disease and Gastroenteritis Outbreaks

If you think you got sick from eating a certain food, contact your local public health authority.

 Featured Topic:

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Click here for important information from the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about:
-current outbreaks
-food safety tips
-learn more about food poisoning

See also Food Drug Administration's (FDA) Active Investigations of Foodborne Illnesses.


It is estimated that 48 million people get sick and 128,000 are hospitalized from foodborne disease in the U.S. each year. Common symptoms of foodborne illness are diarrhea or vomiting (gastroenteritis). Noroviruses are the most common cause. Public Health Division staff investigate foodborne gastroenteritis outbreaks and work with local health departments to notify people when outbreaks occur.



 Food Safety Tips   Food Safety Alerts


Get the Facts about Raw Milk

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Julie Riggs and her family live in a small town in Missouri. Her husband and daughter couldn’t tolerate cow’s milk, so the family decided to try raw goat’s milk from a local farmer. In this video, Julie describes what happened to her daughter and husband after they drank the raw milk.  






Raw milk is milk that has not been heat-treated (pasteurized) to kill germs that can make people sick. Young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness from germs found in raw milk. Choosing pasteurized milk and dairy products is the safest way for you and your family to enjoy these products. 

Click here for more information on raw milk.  
CDC raw milk information (English, Spanish)

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About Backyard Poultry

Keeping backyard poultry, such as chickens and ducks, is becoming more popular. Please see the links below with information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on how to keep your flock and family safe and healthy!

Information from CDC on Backyard Poultry

Chicken Coop Videos from CDC with tips on staying healthy with your backyard flock


For Partners

Investigative Guidelines and Tools


Oregon Data


Lab Samples

  • To submit specimens to the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory (OSPHL):
    • Call the OHA epidemiologist assigned to the investigation before submitting clinical specimens to the lab.
    • Follow the instructions for collection, storage, and transport on the lab test menu for the test you will order on the OSPHL Lab Test Menu.

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