The Minnesota Department of Health is investigating a possible foodborne illness outbreak at a Nisswa Lion’s Club meeting held at the Nisswa Community Center on March 24, 2014. The investigation is ongoing and not much information is available, according to the Brainerd Dispatch.
The meal was catered by Red, White and Blue Catering of Nisswa. About 35 people ate the buffet meal, and some reported vomiting and/or diarrhea after the event. The DOH does not have a complete list of food items served at the event.
Investigations can take a few weeks. Investigators must interview those sickened, take environmental samples, collect food samples, if any, test food for possible bacteria or viruses, and look at samples from patients to determine the outbreak cause. If they do find a common pathogen, they investigate to see whether the problem was caused at the event or, by using traceback, if a contaminated food further up the chain caused the outbreak.
