How to Report Food Poisoning
If you feel you might have gotten food poisoning from eating at a restaurant or from eating food you bought or if you find a bug or something strange in a container of food please contact the Santa Cruz County Environmental Health Department to report it.
Location:
County Governmental Center
701 Ocean Street, Room 312
Santa Cruz, CA 95060 |
Office Hours: 8am - 12pm, 1pm - 5 pm weekdays
Phone: (831) 454-2022
Fax: (831) 454-3128
Email: Env.Hlth@santacruzcounty.us |
What are enteric diseases?
Enteric diseases affect your stomach or intestines. They can cause symptoms like diarrhea, fever, or stomach cramps. Enteric diseases can be caused by a variety of germs. These germs typically enter the body through the mouth. They are acquired through contaminated food and water, by contact with animals or their environments, or by contact with the feces (poop) of an infected person. Often, the germs are spread to food, water, or surfaces by the hands of an infected person who has not washed properly after using the bathroom. But it is also possible to get these infections through sexual contact.
How can sexual contact expose you to enteric diseases?
Any type of sexual contact that may put you in contact with feces, even if it is not visible, is a risk for infection with one or more of these germs. Anal sex and oral-genital contact have some risk, but oral stimulation such as sucking or licking of the anus (anilingus, rimming) may be especially risky.
How can you reduce your risk of exposure to these germs during sexual contact?
Avoid sexual activity with people who have diarrhea or who recently had diarrhea. Some germs can still be passed on 2-3 weeks after symptoms clear. Ask your partner(s) before sex if they have been ill recently.
- Reduce contact with fecal matter during sex.
- Wash your genitals, anus, and hands before and after sexual activity.
- Use barriers such as condoms or dental dams during oral sex and oral-anal sex. Gloves (preferably latex) should be used during anal fingering or fisting.
- Use condoms during anal and vaginal sex to help reduce the risk of getting other sexually transmitted infections.
What else can you do to reduce your risk of exposure to these germs through other types of exposure?
To avoid catching these germs through any type of exposure:
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds:
- Before eating
- Before cooking
- After changing a diaper
- After using the bathroom
- After helping to clean another person who has defecated (pooped).
- Avoid swallowing water when swimming at lakes, rivers or oceans.
Lakes, rivers, and the ocean can be contaminated with germs from sewage spills, animal waste, and water runoff following rainfall. Some common germs can also live for long periods of time in salt water.
- When traveling internationally, follow food and water precautions.
Remember to wash hands with water and soap frequently.
- Workers that handle food or medications (chef, waiter, caterer, healthcare providers, etc.) who catch these germs cannot work until they have completely recovered and all symptoms have resolved. In general, under public health regulations, food handlers must stay out of work for 72 hours after their symptoms have resolved. However, exclusion guidelines may differ based on the type of disease. They may even need to have their feces (poop) tested to show they are no longer infected. This could mean up to several weeks of being excluded from work (often without pay!).
Enteric Illnesses
You can contract Enteric Illnesses by eating, drinking or swallowing food or water that has been contaminated with a pathogenic organism. You can also contract some of these illnesses from contact with an infected person via fecal-oral transmission. Below is a list and description of various Enteric Illnesses diseases. We compiled this information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) web site.