Three Dead, More Than 100 Sick in Foodborne Illness Outbreak at Italian Nursing Homes
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A foodborne illness outbreak affecting four nursing homes in Florence, Italy and the surrounding area has sickened more than 100 residents, resulting in three deaths. The affected facilities shared the same cooking center.
The Central Tuscany Local Health Authority is investigating the outbreak. As of February 13, 2025, 114 cases of gastroenteritis have been identified among 173 residents, per interviews with nursing home staff. The onset of symptoms began on February 9.
A root-cause analysis is still underway, but thus far, critical issues at the shared cooking center have been observed, leading to a temporary suspension of meal production. The vehicle of illness has not yet been confirmed, but as of February 11, four suspected foods are undergoing microbiological analysis: carrot puree, vegetable mix, rabbit and potatoes, and pizza.
Inspections of the nursing homes are ongoing by public health investigators. Documentation of the facilities’ interventions for managing the outbreak has been requested.
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