Doctors and hospitals are required to report cases of foodborne illness to the Cuyahoga County Board of Health.
We follow up with the sick patients to try to determine where the illness may have started.
A food history is taken so that we can look at what foods were eaten by the person or people who became sick.
Any stores or restaurants the ill person purchased food from are contacted and sometimes inspected to determine if they might be the cause of an illness or outbreak,
An outbreak is defined as two or more cases of illness caused by the same food.
The most common foodborne illness in Cuyahoga County is Norovirus, which is highly contagious.
Frequent, thorough hand washing with warm soapy water helps to prevent the spread of this disease and many others.
If you have diarrhea or vomiting symptoms, please do not prepare food, wash dishes or provide patient care for others.
Keep them safe from this illness by making sure you are healthy before resuming regular activities.
To report a foodborne illness:
Call 216.201.2000
What are the symptoms of a foodborne illness?