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Annual Summary of Disease Activity

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Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division
651-201-5414
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Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division
651-201-5414
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Foodborne and Enteric (Intestinal) Diseases
Annual Summary of Reportable Diseases

Foodborne disease occurs when people eat or drink something contaminated with harmful germs (pathogens) like bacteria, viruses, or parasites, or sometimes harmful chemicals or toxins.

Many types of pathogens can contaminate food, leading to many kinds of foodborne illnesses. These germs can also come from animals, water, or other people. Common symptoms are diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, nausea, fever, joint and back aches, and feeling tired. These symptoms often last from 1 to 7 days but can last much longer. Some foodborne pathogens cause invasive illness, such as a blood or cerebrospinal fluid infection.

The cases reported to MDH are only a small proportion of all foodborne illness in Minnesota because many people do not get tested or seek medical care. As part of surveillance activities, MDH conducts phone interviews with cases about their exposures, public health follow-up, and outbreak identification and investigation.

Preventing foodborne illnesses involves cleaning, separating, fully cooking, and chilling food properly. People with diarrhea or vomiting should stay home from childcare or jobs in food service to avoid spreading the illness. 

Published 5/6/2026

2024 Highlights

  • Campylobacteriosis was the most common bacterial foodborne disease reported in 2024, with 2,060 cases (1,223 culture-confirmed).
  • Confirmation rates for specimens that tested positive at a clinical laboratory ranged from 26.3% to 84.4%.
  • 557 Minnesotans were hospitalized for a bacterial foodborne disease in 2024. 




Culture-independent diagnostic tests (CIDTs) continue to be commonly used in clinical laboratories for diagnosis of diarrheal illness. Confirmation rates at the MDH Public Health Laboratory (PHL) for specimens tested by CIDTs in 2024 ranged from 26.3% for Vibrio to 84.4% for Salmonella.

Together, a total of 2,794 culture-confirmed cases of Campylobacter, Salmonella, Vibrio, Listeria, Shigella, and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infection were reported in 2024. Incidence of culture-confirmed disease ranged from 0.3 cases per 100,000 population for Listeria to 21.4 per 100,000 for Campylobacter.

Some of these cases were part of 38 outbreaks identified in 2024, including 23 Salmonella outbreaks, 9 STEC outbreaks, 4 Listeria outbreaks, and 2 Campylobacter outbreaks. In addition, 320 foodborne or enteric illness outbreaks due to other or unknown etiologies were investigated in 2024, including 274 norovirus outbreaks.

Foodborne disease can be severe – 557 culture-confirmed cases were hospitalized in 2024, and 14 died. Hospitalization rates for culture-confirmed cases ranged from 9.4% for Vibrio to 100% for Listeria.

The top two bacterial foodborne diseases continued to exhibit marked summer seasonality in 2024, with Campylobacter peaking in July (141 cases) and Salmonella peaking in August (137 cases). In 2024, STEC cases varied across the year more than historically. 

Annual summary by disease

More about foodborne and enteric (intestinal) diseases

For up to date information:

  • Campylobacteriosis was the most common bacterial foodborne disease reported in 2023, with 1,831 cases (1,140 culture-confirmed).
  • Confirmation rates for specimens that tested positive at a clinical laboratory ranged from 25.8% to 90.0%.
  • 753 Minnesotans were hospitalized for a bacterial foodborne disease in 2023. 

Culture-independent diagnostic tests (CIDTs) continue to be commonly used in clinical laboratories for diagnosis of diarrheal illness. Confirmation rates at the MDH Public Health Laboratory (PHL) for specimens tested by CIDTs in 2023 ranged from 25.8% (for Shigella) to 90.0% (for Salmonella).

Together, a total of 3,960 cases of Campylobacter, Salmonella, Vibrio, Listeria, Shigella, and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infection were reported in 2023. Incidence of culture-confirmed disease ranged from 0.2 cases per 100,000 population (for Listeria) to 20.0 (for Campylobacter).

These cases were part of 38 identified outbreaks in 2023, including 23 Salmonella outbreaks, 10 STEC outbreaks, four Campylobacter outbreaks, and one Vibrio outbreak. In addition, 234 foodborne or enteric illness outbreaks due to other or unknown etiologies were investigated in 2023, including 211 norovirus outbreaks. 

Foodborne disease can be severe – 753 cases were hospitalized in 2023, and 14 died. Hospitalization rates for culture-confirmed cases ranged from 15.5% (for Campylobacter) to 88.9% (for Listeria).

The top three bacterial foodborne diseases continued to exhibit marked summer seasonality in 2023, with Campylobacter and STEC peaking in August (258 and 111 cases, respectively) and Salmonella peaking in July (144 cases). 

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Last Updated: 05/06/2026

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