1. Vibrio Reporting and Surveillance in Louisiana
Jenna Iberg Johnson, MSPH
Foodborne Disease Surveillance Coordinator
Epidemiologist Supervisor
Louisiana Department of Health
Office of Public Health
Infectious Disease Epidemiology Section

2. Reporting Vibrio Cases
Vibrio infections are reportable to the Office of Public Health – Infectious Disease Epidemiology by the Louisiana Sanitary Code
reporting is required within 5 business days
Vibrio infections are reported by:
Medical providers
Laboratories – hospital, reference and state labs
Reports received via fax, electronic lab reporting, or entered by provider into our reportable disease surveillance system
Sometimes notified first by our state lab when they receive a vibrio isolate for confirmation

3. Investigating Vibrio Cases
Epidemiologists follow up on all reported Vibrio cases
Request lab reports and notes from provider
Request an isolate be sent to our state lab for confirmation
Complete COVIS form and send to relevant parties
If oyster consumption is identified, notify Molluscan Shellfish Program who coordinates trace back
If other seafood at retail establishment is identified, notify sanitarians to follow-up with establishment to review procedures, etc
Enter details into reportable disease surveillance system
Enter details into Vibrio database

4. Notifications of Vibrio cases
All COVIS forms are submitted to CDC
Weekly preliminary case count by species submitted to CDC
If case reports oyster consumption, COVIS form is also sent to FDA
Molluscan Shellfish Program is aware of all cases who report oyster consumption because they conduct trace back
Sanitarians are aware of cases involving other seafood at retail establishment because they conduct inspections

5. Notification timeline
Vibrio infections are reportable within 5 business days but this does not always happen
Epidemiologists follow-up with case to complete COVIS as soon as possible
Foodborne coordinator notifies Molluscan Shellfish Program as soon as oyster consumption is identified
Foodborne coordinator notifies FDA of case reporting oyster consumption as soon as tags are secured
Foodborne coordinator submits COVIS form to CDC once lab confirmation is complete (if done), oyster tags secured, any other relevant follow-up completed

6. Timeliness of COVIS submission to CDC
Submission of COVIS can be delayed due to:
Multiple steps in processing cases
Difficulty reaching provider for records
Difficulty reaching patient for follow-up
Difficulty in securing relevant oyster tags
Lab confirmation takes time
Work load of OPH epidemiologists, sanitarians, molluscan shellfish