Section 690.565  Any Suspected or Confirmed Outbreak of a Disease of Known or Unknown Etiology that may be a Danger to the Public Health, Whether the Disease, Infection, Microorganism, or Condition is specified in the Rule (Including, but Not Limited to, Foodborne, Healthcare-associated, Zoonotic Disease or Waterborne Outbreaks) (Reportable by telephone or electronically as soon as possible, within 24 hours)

a)         Investigation of Outbreaks

1)         Any pattern of cases, or increased incidence of any illness beyond the expected number of cases in a given period, that may indicate an outbreak, including but not limited to suspected or confirmed outbreaks of foodborne or waterborne disease, or outbreaks transmitted by laboratory acquisition, animal contact, person-to-person contact, inhalation or other transmission method, or in healthcare settings due to breaches in infection control practices shall be reported to the local health authority within 24 hours.  Outbreaks shall be reported if there is a public health significance to the event, including, but not limited to, evidence of severe illness (deaths or hospitalizations), institutional outbreaks, outbreaks involving a population at increased risk for severe complications, outbreaks of reportable diseases or conditions, outbreaks of unknown etiology, outbreaks with a controllable source, or outbreaks which are very large or rapidly progressing or if there is the possibility of transmission to humans from animals.

2)         All suspected or confirmed foodborne outbreaks shall be investigated by the local health authority where the food was prepared, or by the Department or another relevant agency (e.g., Illinois Department of Agriculture, federal Food and Drug Administration) if the local authority does not have regulatory authority or is unable to perform the investigation.  If multiple jurisdictions are involved, the jurisdiction where the food was prepared shall be in charge of the investigation unless determined otherwise.  All suspected or confirmed outbreaks not caused by foodborne transmission shall be investigated by the local health authority where the exposure occurred. 

3)         If the investigation determines that an outbreak has occurred, the jurisdiction in charge of the investigation shall enter the outbreak within 24 hours from notification from outbreak facility or cluster detection by local health authority into the Department's ORS.  Within 30 days of the end of the outbreak investigation, the final information shall be entered into ORS.

4)         When outbreaks occur in any business, organization, institution, private home or health care facility, staff in the establishment where the outbreak occurred may be considered to be contacts to cases and may be required by the local health authority to submit specimens for testing.

5)         Reporting entities, as defined in Section 690.200(a)(1), are required to report any known or suspected common-source outbreaks and any intoxication caused by marine organisms, including paralytic shellfish poisoning, ciguatera and scombroid.

6)         See Section 690.20(a)(9) and (a)(10) for guidance on the control of viral gastroenteritis outbreaks.

b)         Control of Cases

1)         Cases shall be evaluated to determine the need for isolation in a health care setting or at the person's residence. The isolation precautions followed shall be based on the most likely pathogen.

2)         Persons who become ill due to an outbreak shall comply with restrictions specific to each etiologic agent addressed in this Part.

3)         If the etiologic agent responsible for a foodborne or waterborne outbreak is not addressed in this Part and diarrhea or vomiting of infectious or unknown cause is present, food handlers and persons in sensitive occupations, including health care workers, who are ill shall not work until 48 hours after diarrhea or vomiting has resolved. 

4)         Persons with draining skin lesions shall not work as food handlers unless the drainage is contained by a dressing and lesions are not on the hands or forearms.

5)         The Director shall request certain reports of clinical diagnosis of disease in animals, reports of laboratory tests on animals, and clinical materials from animals when investigation based upon veterinarian and veterinary medical laboratory reports will assist in the prevention and control of disease among humans.

c)         Control of Contacts

1)         Contacts shall be evaluated to determine the need for quarantine or for symptom monitoring/follow-up by the local public health authority for the appropriate time period.

2)         Contacts to persons who become ill due to an outbreak shall comply with restrictions specific to each etiologic agent.

d)         The local health authority shall implement appropriate control measures.

e)         Sale of Food, Milk, etc. (See Section 690.30(b).)

f)         Laboratory Reporting

1)         Laboratories shall report to the local health authority clinical, animal, environmental or food specimens that have a positive result on a laboratory test indicative of and specific for detecting any outbreak of public health significance.

2)         Laboratories shall submit to the Department's laboratory any positive clinical, food, environmental or animal samples resulting from an outbreak investigation.

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 4098, effective February 27, 2024)