What to Do If You Get Campylobacter: A Step-by-Step Guide

Recognize Campylobacter Symptoms and When to Seek Medical Help

Campylobacter symptoms typically appear 2 to 3 days after exposure and include diarrhea (often bloody), cramping abdominal pain, fever, and sometimes nausea or vomiting. Most people recover within a week without antibiotics, but severe cases or immunocompromised individuals need medical attention. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience severe dehydration, bloody diarrhea lasting more than 3 days, high fever (above 102°F), signs of systemic infection, or if you're pregnant, elderly, or have a weakened immune system. Your healthcare provider can confirm Campylobacter through stool culture tests and prescribe antibiotics like azithromycin if needed.

Report Your Illness to Your Local Health Department

Campylobacter is a reportable disease in all U.S. states, meaning your doctor or lab is required to notify your local health department when a case is confirmed. You can also report directly by contacting your city or county health department—they'll ask about symptoms, onset date, and foods consumed in the days before illness began. This information helps health departments identify outbreak patterns and trace contaminated foods or sources. Provide as much detail as possible about where and what you ate, including restaurant names, grocery stores, or prepared foods. The FDA and FSIS monitor these reports to investigate multi-state outbreaks and issue public alerts.

Check for Active Outbreaks and Monitor Food Safety Alerts

Once you've reported your illness, you can track whether your case is part of a larger outbreak by checking the CDC's outbreak investigation page and FDA Food Safety Alerts. The CDC investigates clusters of Campylobacter cases linked to specific food sources or restaurants, publishing details as investigations progress. Panko Alerts monitors 25+ government sources including FDA, FSIS, CDC, and city health departments in real time, so you'll get immediate notifications if an outbreak is traced to a food you consumed or a location you visited. Knowing whether your illness is part of a documented outbreak helps you understand exposure risk, connect with other affected individuals, and stay informed about recalls or warnings.

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