Did ChatGPT help health officials solve a weird outbreak? Maybe.

Health authorities in Illinois recently sought the assistance of an AI chatbot to unravel a bizarre outbreak associated with a local county fair. However, the effectiveness of this approach is still up for debate. The situation came to light when the Brown County sheriff reported on August 5, 2024, that an unusual number of potential jurors mentioned suffering from a stomach ailment. Following this, the state health department informed the county about a confirmed case of Salmonella enterica serotype Agbeni on August 12. Acting on this information, health officials initiated an investigation that uncovered a total of 13 cases—seven confirmed cases of Salmonella Agbeni and six probable ones linked to those infected. Notably, all individuals had attended the Brown County fair, which attracts approximately 36,000 visitors to the small community of 4,200 residents each year. The fair took place from July 30 to August 4, meaning it had concluded by the time officials connected the dots. The initial theory pointed towards food vendors as the source, given that Salmonella is often associated with foodborne illnesses. These bacteria can be found in the intestines of both domestic and wild animals, including poultry and cattle, and can contaminate food through various means, leading to gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. Although nine of the affected individuals reported consuming food from at least one vendor at the fair, the other four had not eaten there, complicating the investigation. Officials noted concerning hygiene practices at the event, which featured portable restrooms and a limited number of handwashing stations. Ten of the sick individuals acknowledged that they did not wash their hands during their time at the fair. Interestingly, the common link among all infected individuals was that they consumed cold, canned beer from the fair's only beer tent. The beer was stored in a makeshift cooler constructed from non-food-grade corrugated drainage tile, which was only hosed down at the beginning of the fair and not cleaned thereafter. The cooler was replenished daily with ice made from municipal tap water, and staff working at the beer tent handled both the beer and ice without gloves. As the investigation continues, health officials are working to determine the exact source of the outbreak and ensure the safety of future events.