Linn County case points to limits on information released in outbreaks

Six people became ill after eating at a Linn County restaurant on the same day in December.

Two more diners became ill after eating at the same restaurant two days later.

Would you like to know which restaurant?

Finding an answer isn't simple.

State law governs what information can be released during outbreaks.

A bill that would have relaxed the law didn't get far this year in the state Legislature.

State epidemiologist Dr. Patricia Quinlisk said each investigation or outbreak is handled based on the circumstances.

In the December case, 11 people were diagnosed within a week with the same strain of salmonella, often a food-borne illness.

Because a direct cause of the illness was not identified, no warnings were issued and the name of the restaurant and two others where patients ate, were kept confidential.

Curtis Dickson, director of Linn County Public Health, said the county can release only what the state allows.

"Unless we tie it to a particular food source, we can't take it to the public," he said.

Dickson said he is willing to notify the public in cases where public health is at risk, but that must be balanced with fairness to the businesses involved.

"We don't want to cause panic among people, either," he said.

Sen. Amanda Ragan, D-Mason City, introduced the bill that would have eased restrictions on information that can be released during outbreaks.

The bill, which did not make it out of a subcommittee, would have kept names confidential, but allowed releasing the county of residence, health condition, sex and approximate age of a person infected with a reportable disease.

Quinlisk said she and others opposed the bill, which came in the wake of the H1N1 flu epidemic.

One concern was that people might be hesitant to get tested for a disease if they thought the information might become public, she said. Opponents also questioned releasing other health conditions that might not be related to the disease.

Quinlisk said the law already allows an individual, business or other entity to be identified to protect public health.

For example, the public would be notified if a restaurant worker could have infected customers with hepatitis A.

But most times that doesn't happen, especially with food-borne illnesses where the source is seldom found.

"You don't want to destroy somebody's business if they had nothing to do with it," Quinlisk said.

To see Iowa's policy for disclosure of reportable disease information, go to:

www.idph.state.ia.us/adper/common/pdf/cade/disclosure_reportable_diseases.pdf