The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the Cumberland County Department of Public Health concluded that the Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak that sickened 100 people in 2013 was from the All American Grill at the Holiday Inn Bordeaux in Fayetteville. Twenty-five cases were confirmed by laboratory analysis; the other 75 cases were listed as “probable”.
Public health inspectors found issues at the restaurant. Improper water temperatures, bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods, temperature violations, a defective dishwasher, and absence of hand washing supplies were cited. No specific food item could be identified as the source of the bacteria. Cross-contamination most likely caused the contamination, along with consumption of handling of undercooked food, and/or contact with contaminated surfaces.
Seven food service employees at the restaurant were working while they were sick. Twenty-nine of the 100 case patients were restaurant staff. Of those 29, ten were laboratory confirmed with the outbreak strain of the bacteria. Sick leave policies may have contributed to this issue, according to the final report.
Illness onset dates ranged from May 1, 2013 to May 17, 2013. Most patients were residents of North Carolina, with others from Alabama, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and South Carolina. All of the case-patients had an association with the Holiday Inn Bordeaux, either as an employee or a customer. Eighteen percent of patients needed care from a medical provider, and eight were hospitalized as a result of their illness.
The symptoms of a Salmonella infection include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, chills, headache, muscle pains, and blood in the stool. Symptoms usually begin six to seventy-two hours after exposure. Many people recover without medical care, but some people can become seriously ill and need to be hospitalized. The complications of a Salmonella infection include reactive arthritis.
