New cyclosporiasis outbreaks continue to be identified, and FDA investigators are working to determine where Cyclospora contamination has occurred and whether cases are connected. SciLine’s next media briefing will explore how pathogens contaminate foods, why identifying the source of an outbreak can take weeks or months, and how scientists and public health agencies work to detect outbreaks and protect consumers.
During this briefing experts will discuss:
How foodborne pathogens (including Cyclospora, Salmonella, coli, and Listeria) contaminate fresh produce and what makes Cyclospora different from other common foodborne pathogens;
How environmental monitoring, food testing, and surveillance systems help identify contamination and where limitations remain;
How investigators determine when seemingly unrelated illnesses are part of the same outbreak and combine epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback evidence to identify likely sources;
How local, state, and federal agencies coordinate outbreak investigations and why identifying the source of contamination can take such a long time;
How foodborne illness surveillance and traceback investigations have evolved in recent years, what role recalls play during an investigation, and why public health recommendations may change as new evidence emerges; and
What recent cyclosporiasis outbreaks reveal about the broader challenges of preventing, detecting, and responding to foodborne illness in the United States.
Two panelists will participate in a moderated discussion, then take questions from reporters, all on the record.
