A Salmonella outbreak has temporarily closed the Churrascaria Aveirense restaurant in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The New Bedford Board of Health will not permit the restaurant, located at 175 Sawyer Street in New Bedford, to reopen until all employees have tested negative for Salmonella and the restaurant meets all food safety requirements.
Symptoms of a Salmonella infection usually develop between 12 and 72 hours after exposure and include diarrhea, which can be bloody, nausea, vomiting, fever, and abdominal cramps. Symptoms generally persist four to seven days. Anyone who has eaten at the restaurant and has these symptoms should see a doctor and mention possible exposure to Salmonella.
Salmonella is a pathogen that is transmitted via the fecal-oral route, meaning those who develop infections have eaten food contaminated with microscopic amounts of animal or human feces. In a small percentage of cases, a Salmonella infection can move from the digestive tract to the bloodstream causing severe, or life-threatening illness. Long-term complications, such as reactive arthritis, which causes painful inflammation, can also occur.
The New Bedford Board of Health is working with the state health department on an investigation into the outbreak. The investigation is ongoing.
