The Appalachian District Health Department is investigating a Salmonella outbreak associated with the Proper restaurant in Boone, North Carolina. As of Monday, June 9, 2014, there are 37 people with the signs and symptoms “consistent with Salmonellosis” according to public health officials. Seven of those people are confirmed cases. No one has been hospitalized, and no one has died.
The Health Department is asking anyone who ate or drank beverages at the Proper restaurant at 142 South Water Street on or after Saturday, May 17, 2014, and started having diarrhea within three days to call the department at 828-264-6635. After hours calls will be answered by on-call staff.
The symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, chills, headache, muscle pains, and blood in the stool. Most people have diarrhea and intestinal symptoms. And most people recover within a week, but some become ill enough that they must be hospitalized. Long term consequences of a Salmonella infection include reactive arthritis, colitis, urinary tract infections, and myocarditis.
To prevent the spread of Salmonella, it’s important to cook all meats and eggs to well done as measured by a food thermometer, to avoid unpasteurized milk, cheese, and juice, and to thoroughly wash hands after handling animals, before eating or preparing foods for others, and after using the bathroom. Salmonellosis affects all age groups, but children and the elderly are most likely to have complications or more serious symptoms.
