Salmonella Lawyer & Attorney : Marler Clark : Salmonella Blog

WSOC TV reported yesterday that the Newton, North Carolina restaurant associated with a large Salmonella outbreak may not reopen after the health department concludes its investigation into the source of the outbreak. 

Experts with the Catawba County Public Health Office said they may never know for sure what caused the outbreak at the Carniceria y Taqueria off U.S. 321 Business. The owner has scrubbed the place down, but he said he knows some customers will never come back.

Health officials are concerned the outbreak could continue to spread even though the restaurant has stopped serving. That’s because some of those who ate at the restaurant work at other restaurants in town, where they could spread the illness that has symptoms that include shaking, a high fever and diarrhea.

So far, 15 people have been confirmed ill with Salmonellosis, and over 100 people reported becoming ill after eating at Carniceria y Taqueria. 

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Public health officials have confirmed two more cases of Salmonella associated with a food poisoning outbreak in Catawba County, North Carolina.  According to an article published in the Hickory Daily Record today:

The number of confirmed cases stood at 15 as of late Wednesday afternoon, but 126 people have complained of Salmonella-like symptoms, they said.

Most of the people with symptoms had eaten last week at Carniceria y Taqueria Hermanos Chavez, located off U.S. 321 business. No other source has been identified. Officials continue to investigate.

Salmonella is one of the most common enteric (intestinal) infections in the United States. Salmonellosis (the disease caused by Salmonella) is the second most common foodborne illness after Campylobacter infection. It is estimated that 1.4 million cases of salmonellosis occur each year in the U.S.; 95% of those cases are foodborne-related. Approximately 220 of each 1000 cases result in hospitalization and eight of every 1000 cases result in death. About 500 to 1,000 or 31% of all food-related deaths are caused by Salmonella infections each year. Salmonellosis is more common in the warmer months of the year.

Salmonella infection occurs when the bacteria are ingested, typically from food derived from infected food-animals, but it can also occur by ingesting the feces of an infected animal or person. Food sources include raw or undercooked eggs/egg products, raw milk or raw milk products, contaminated water, meat and meat products, and poultry. Raw fruits and vegetables contaminated during slicing have been implicated in several foodborne outbreaks.

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The Charlotte Observer reported yesterday on the closure of Carniceria & Taqueria Hermanos Chavez in Newton.  The restaurant was closed on Friday after dozens of people became ill with Salmonella infections after eating at the restaurant, according to Catawba County health officials. 

As reported by the Observer:

Since Oct. 31, nearly 100 people have reported having salmonella symptoms -- including diarrhea, vomiting, cramping, headache and fever -- and 13 cases had been confirmed by Tuesday, said Maria Reese, a spokeswoman for Catawba County Public Health.

Most of the people with symptoms had eaten at Carniceria y Taqueria Hermanos Chavez off of U.S. 321 Business in Newton, Reese said. The owner voluntarily closed the restaurant Friday after a visit from public health officials, Reese said.

Goblueridge.com reported that at least ten people's tests have come back positive for Salmonella. 

An infectious dose of Salmonella is small, probably from 15 to 20 cells.  Typically, non-typhoidal Salmonella produces a self-limiting febrile gastrointestinal illness that is indistinguishable from that caused by other bacterial enteric pathogens. Dehydration is the principal clinical concern. The incubation period – the time between ingestion of Salmonella bacteria and the onset of illness – varies from six to 72 hours.

Salmonella can cause three different kinds of illness: gastroenteritis, typhoid fever, and bacteremia.

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