Environmental Services

Food Borne Illness Investigation Program

The Clinton County Health Department responds to potential food borne illnesses as the result of eating contaminated food.  The Health Department staff assists the VNA in the collection of samples to be tested for the disease causing agent and interviews those affected by the illness as well as those who were exposed in the same setting, but did not develop the illness.  The interview process and the testing of samples help to determine the source of the illness.

What to do if you suspect that you have a food borne illness:

1. If you or your doctor suspect that you have a food borne illness, you should contact the Health Department.

2. It is important to collect a stool or vomit specimen for analysis in the lab.

3. It is important to write down as many things as you can remember eating in the past 72 hours, from all sources.

4. Once the Health Department receives notification of a potential food borne illness, public health nurses and environmental health specialists can begin their investigation of the source.

5. Save any samples of the food that you have eaten that may be left over and in your possession.

6. In order to have an analysis performed, the laboratory requires a stool or vomit specimen from the patient to compare with the food specimen.

There is no fee for the food borne illness investigation program, but in certain instances there may be a lab fee for testing.