Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreak associated with school field trips at a farm animal exhibit-Tennessee, September-October 2023.

Aims: In October 2023, the Tennessee Department of Health identified an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 infections among elementary school students who attended school field trips to the same farm animal exhibit. Our aim was to determine STEC source and prevent additional illnesses by initiating epidemiologic, laboratory and environmental investigations.

Methods And Results: We identified cases using laboratory-based surveillance and by surveying caregivers of children who attended the exhibit.

Early and Increased Influenza Activity Among Children - Tennessee, 2022-23 Influenza Season.

Influenza seasons typically begin in October and peak between December and February (1); however, the 2022-23 influenza season in Tennessee began in late September and was characterized by high pediatric hospitalization rates during November. This report describes a field investigation conducted in Tennessee during November 2022, following reports of increasing influenza hospitalizations. Data from surveillance networks, patient surveys, and whole genome sequencing of influenza virus specimens were analyzed to assess influenza activity and secondary illness risk.

Phylogeny and Genomic Characterization of Clinical Salmonella enterica Serovar Newport Collected in Tennessee.

Salmonella enterica subsp. serovar Newport (. Newport) is a clinically and epidemiologically significant serovar in the United States.