Improving reporting and response for food poisoning in Harris County
EH20-001 - Strengthening Foodborne Illness Surveillance and Response Capabilities in Harris County Using an Innovative System-Based Approach
This project will help Harris County residents report suspected food poisoning more easily and get faster public health responses through better systems and outreach.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harris County NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11416073 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you live in Harris County and think you got sick from food, this project works to make it easier for you to report what happened and to get a quicker public health response. The team will identify why people don't report foodborne illness now, run a new media campaign to encourage and guide reporting, and put in a standard procedure for handling complaints and outbreak investigations. They will also focus on educating restaurants and other food businesses about controlling risk factors to prevent future illnesses. Overall, the approach links multiple parts of the local health system so that an increase in reports leads to better prevention and response.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are Harris County residents who experience symptoms of suspected foodborne illness or who want to report a food-related illness or complaint.
Not a fit: People living outside Harris County or those seeking immediate clinical treatment for food poisoning (rather than reporting/public-health follow-up) may not directly benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could see faster detection of outbreaks, fewer cases of foodborne illness, and clearer guidance on reporting and prevention.
How similar studies have performed: Other public health campaigns and enhanced surveillance efforts have increased reporting and helped detect outbreaks in some areas, though results depend on local outreach and systems.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- Harris County — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Monroy, Joann — Harris County
- Study coordinator: Monroy, Joann
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.