How Do Epidemiologists Track and Investigate Foodborne Illness Outbreaks?
Epidemiologists use several methods to track and investigate foodborne illness outbreaks:
- Surveillance Systems: Continuous monitoring of disease reports to detect unusual patterns. - Epidemiological Studies: Conducting case-control and cohort studies to identify sources and risk factors. - Laboratory Testing: Analyzing samples from patients, foods, and environments to identify pathogens. - Traceback Investigations: Tracing the contaminated food back through the supply chain to its source.
