FOODBORNE ILLNESS

Environmental Health Services investigates illness complaints involving the consumption of foods or beverages. Complaints may also warrant a laboratory-assisted investigation if they meet at least one of the following criteria:

* An incident in which two or more persons have the same disease, have similar symptoms, or excrete the same pathogens; and there is a time, place or person association between these persons.

* A single case of suspected botulism, a confirmed case of Vibrio vulnificus or Vibrio cholerae, a single case of mushroom poisoning or a case of ciguatera or paralytic shellfish poisoning may be considered an incident warranting further investigation.

* A physician requests laboratory services specific to an individual's symptoms associated with a suspect food poisoning.

Complaints arising from the consumption of foods prepared in private homes generally have no potential for public exposure and usually are not considered for laboratory investigation.