Outbreak Response and Prevention Branch

CDC's lead for ensuring rapid and coordinated surveillance, detection, and response to multistate outbreaks of foodborne disease

Activities

• Coordinate OutbreakNet: the national network of public health officials who investigate foodborne disease outbreaks
• Coordinate the OutbreakNet Sentinel Sites: works with health departments to improve detection of and response to foodborne disease outbreaks
• Provide outbreak assistance to state and local health departments and oversees EIS field investigations
• Develop, evaluate, and supply outbreak investigation tools and training materials
• Develop, implement, and evaluate strategies for the prevention and control of foodborne disease outbreaks.

We are organized in teams: Outbreak Response and OutbreakNet.

In 2010, we helped identify the source of Salmonella that led to the recall of half-billion eggs, monitored 17–42 potential food poisoning clusters each week, and investigated more than 200 multistate clusters, 14 of which led to recalls.