On March 31, 2014 at 2:52 pm, the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) notified the Kansas
Department of Health and Environment’s Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Response
section (KDHE) of a foodborne illness complaint. The complainant stated that six out of seven
individuals from four different households became ill with gastrointestinal symptoms after
eating at Buffalo Bob’s Smokehouse (719 Massachusetts, Lawrence, KS 66047) on March 29,
2014. KDHE notified the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department (LDCHD), and an
outbreak investigation was initiated at 3:15 pm to determine the cause and scope of illness and
to determine appropriate prevention and control measures. The response expanded into a
multi-county effort as complainants resided in Douglas, Shawnee, and Coffey counties.