The Illinois Department of Public Health has issued a warning about a Salmonella outbreak linked to illegally manufactured Mexican cheese. At least 100 people are sickened in this outbreak that has affected 13 counties. They are: Boone, Cook (including Chicago), DuPage, Fayette, Kane, Lake, LaSalle, Macon, Marion, McHenry, Vermillion, Washington, and Will. The illnesses have been occurring since July 2012. The same strain of Salmonella has sickened 100 people and is associated with the cheese. The average patient age is 9 years, and one-third of all patients have been hospitalized in this outbreak. A sample of the cheese taken from the home of a patient tested positive for Salmonella bacteria. Public health officials are trying to identify the manufacturer of the cheese. The cheese … [Read more...]
Mexican Restaurant Salmonella Outbreaks in Illinois, Kentucky
Public health officials in Illinois and Kentucky are investigating separate outbreaks of Salmonella associated with independent Mexican restaurants. Combined, the Hacienda Don Villo outbreak in Channahon, Illinois, and the Casa Mexicana outbreak in Madisonville, Kentucky, have sickened about 50 people. In Kentucky, one of the outbreak patients has died. “Every outbreak of Salmonella carries the prospect of life-long illness for unsuspecting families,’’ said Fred Pritzker, founder of national food safety law firm Pritzker Olsen Attorneys. Pritzker said too many people downplay the burdens of Salmonella infection, which can trigger an assortment of long-term illness in some patients. In others, Salmonellosis resolves itself with no medical attention and the illness is over. Studies … [Read more...]
Hacienda Don Villo Employee Tests Positive for Salmonella as County Investigates Complaints of Illness
Over 34 people have complained of illness after eating at Hacienda Don Villo, a Mexican restaurant in Channahon, IL, according to Philip Jass, Health Admistrator with the Grundy County Health Department. Jass told Food Poisoning Bulletin some of the stool samples are coming back positive for Salmonella, including the stool sample of one employee. All other employee stool samples have been negative. The county received the first complaint of illness on September 23. After being alerted to the possible food poisoning outbreak, the owner voluntarily closed the restaurant. According to a sign on the door, the restaurant was going to reopen today, but Jass told Food Poisoning Bulletin that the employees who were working at the restaurant can't go back to work until they have 2 negative test … [Read more...]
