Dayton & Montgomery County is in the early stages of investigating an outbreak of illness associated with eating at Lucky’s Taproom & Eatery between the dates of February 12 through February 29. The restaurant is located at 520 East Fifth Street in Dayton. Public Health received an initial complaint of illness on Monday, February 29 and inspected the business the same day.

As of 4 pm on Thursday, March 3, Public Health has received a total of seventy (70) reports of illness. Of the reported ill, four were admitted to area hospitals. Symptoms reported include stomach cramps, diarrhea, headache, nausea and vomiting.

During the investigation, Pubic Health obtained stool samples from the ill and food samples from the restaurant. These samples have been submitted for testing to the Ohio Department of Health Laboratory to determine what may be causing the illness. Results are expected next week. As the investigation continues, additional samples may be submitted for testing.

The restaurant owner decided to close voluntarily on February 29 to sanitize and clean the facility. Public Health is working closely with the owner to make sure all steps are being taken to ensure the restaurant is safe before it reopens.

Public Health’s Environmental Health Director, Jennifer Wentzel explained, “It’s early in the investigation and we are still waiting on testing results. Since the people we have interviewed have all eaten at the same restaurant, it leads us to believe it’s a foodborne illness.”