Summary: Canada's Food-borne Illness Outbreak Response Protocol

The burden of illness due to food-borne pathogens each year in Canada is significant. Investigations of food-borne illness outbreaks, particularly those with cases in more than one jurisdiction, are complex. Accordingly, efficient outbreak response requires the coordination and collaboration of many investigative partners.

To highlight the Public Health Agency of Canada's Food-borne Illness Outbreak Response Protocol (FIORP), the primary guidance document for investigations of multi-jurisdictional food-borne illness outbreaks in Canada.

The current version of the FIORP was developed in 2010 by the Public Health Agency of Canada following consultation with Health Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and provincial and territorial stakeholders.

The FIORP outlines guiding principles and operating procedures to enhance collaboration and coordination among multiple investigative partners in response to multi-jurisdictional food-borne illness outbreaks. It has provided guidance for the conduct of 22 such investigations led by the Public Health Agency of Canada's Centre for Food-borne, Environmental and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases between 2011 and 2013. Furthermore, it has also served as a guide for the development of provincial protocols.

The timely and effective investigation of and response to multi-jurisdictional food-borne illness outbreaks in Canada is facilitated and enhanced by the FIORP.