A Salmonella outbreak at Best BBQ at 1648 West 115th Street in Morgan Park in Chicago has been identified by the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH). At least 14 people are sick in this outbreak. And at least six people have been hospitalized because their illnesses are so severe.
The Chicago Department of Public Health is recommending that anyone who ate at that restaurant recently and is suffering the symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning see a doctor as soon as possible. Tell the doctor you may have this foodborne illness.
CDPH Commissioner Dr. Julie Morita said, “This is a serious condition that is treatable. Anyone who believes they may be symptomatic and ate at this restaurant should see their medical provider immediately. CDPH is taking every precaution as part of our robust response in order to limit the impact of this outbreak.” Salmonella infections are treated with antibiotics.
The outbreak was found by CDPH officials’ surveillance. They reviewed lab reports of patients diagnosed with specific illnesses. Investigators saw an uptick in a particular Salmonella serotype, since it is a reportable disease, and contacted patients.
The symptoms of salmonellosis include diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps and pain, and vomiting. Symptoms usually begin 12 to 72 hours after exposure to the bacteria. The illness usually lasts four to seven days.
Most people recover without medical treatment, which is why most don’t see a doctor. In fact, this illness is so underreported that health officials have assigned a “multiplier” to Salmonella outbreaks to help estimate the actual number of people sickened. That multiplier is 38, so it’s possible that hundreds may be ill.
When salmonellosis spreads to the bloodstream, causes severe diarrhea, or causes dehydration, patients need to be hospitalized. The hospitalization rate for a typical Salmonella outbreak is about 22%. The rate in this outbreak is 43%. This could be because the strain of bacteria is especially virulent, or it could be that the bacteria is resistant to antwibiois.
The restaurant is working with CDPH food inspectors and addressing any possible contamination issues. They provided a list of food suppliers to government officials and are making sure sanitary and health conditions are in place. Officials have not yet determined what caused this outbreak.
If you or someone you know ate at Best BBQ on West 115th Street in Chicago in the past few days and have experienced these symptoms, see your doctor. Salmonella infections can have lifelong health consequences, including reactive arthritis, high blood pressure, and irritable bowel syndrome.
Pritzker Hageman, America’s food safety law firm, successfully represents people harmed by adulterated food products in outbreaks throughout the United States. Its lawyers have won hundreds of millions of dollars for survivors of foodborne illness, including the largest verdict in American history for a person harmed by E. coli and hemolytic uremic syndrome. The firm also publishes Food Poisoning Bulletin, a respected source for food safety news and information. Pritzker Hageman lawyers are regularly interviewed by major news outlets including the New York Times, CNN, and the Wall Street Journal. In addition, the firm represents people harmed by pathogenic microorganisms in Legionnaires‘ disease, surgical site infection, and product liability cases.
