In Portland, Oregon's Lloyd Center district stands an unremarkable office tower — the Portland State Office Building. While it houses various Oregon agencies, one of its most fascinating features lies hidden away: a museum dedicated to what makes us sick.

Nestled in a windowless office amid a sea of cubicles, the International Outbreak Museum houses the world's foremost collection of items linked to disease outbreaks. The exhibits resemble everyday items you might find in any store: a bag of almonds connected to a multi-state salmonella outbreak, a cardboard box that once held frozen hamburger patties linked to deadly E. coli. Each item, whether original or replica, tells a story of foodborne and infectious illnesses that have impacted our communities.

Among its most compelling exhibits are artifacts from a dark chapter in Oregon history: the Rajneeshpuram bioterrorism attack of 1984. The religious group contaminated 10 local salad bars, sickening more than 750 people — an event later featured in Netflix's 2018 documentary series "Wild Wild Country."

The Legacy of Dr. Bill Keene

This unique collection is the legacy of Dr. Bill Keene, a renowned Oregon epidemiologist who died in 2013 at the age of 56. Keene revolutionized outbreak investigation by combining a detective's analytical mind with an archaeologist's attention to detail. His innovative methods led to breakthrough discoveries, including the first documented case of fruit-related E. coli outbreak in 2011. By tracing the path from roadside stands to Oregon berry fields, he linked an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that claimed two lives to strawberries contaminated by deer droppings.

Keene's influence extends beyond individual cases. He transformed outbreak investigation methodology by developing the "shotgun questionnaire" approach, which is now used by public health officials worldwide. But perhaps his most enduring contribution was his commitment to "shoe-leather epidemiology," the practice of conducting field investigations to track outbreak sources firsthand.

"You have to go out and see what's happening," explains Hillary Booth, Keene's former colleague, during a 2019 museum visit. "To understand what questions to ask about it, what things to follow up on. You have to follow your data."

Preserving Public Health History

While the museum's physical location on a controlled-access floor of the Oregon Health Authority's offices limits public visits, especially during recent years when the OHA focused on managing the COVID-19 pandemic, many exhibits are available to view online at www.outbreakmuseum.com.

The museum serves as both a memorial to Dr. Keene's pioneering work and a reminder of the ongoing importance of public health vigilance. Its message resonates clearly: By better understanding past outbreaks, we can work toward preventing future ones. For visitors and readers alike, there's one practical takeaway: invest in a meat thermometer and learn to use it properly. It's a small step toward making these preventable outbreaks less common through safer cooking practices.

Next Week on Feed Your Curiosity

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I’m Bryan M. Vance, your guide to the world’s most fascinating stories that make you say, 'Wait, really?' Every week, I dive into mind-bending discoveries and bizarre historical tales that spark your imagination.

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