An E. coli O26 outbreak at Torero's Mexican Restaurant in Renton, Washington has sickened at least three people, according to the King County Health Department. No hospitalizations have been reported. That restaurant is located at 920 North 10th Street in Renton. The dates that cases were reported to public health are September 8 through September 16, 2022. The dates that patients ate at that restaurant are September 3 and September 7, 2022. Patients have been experiencing diarrhea and abdominal pain. All of the cases have confirmatory testing indicated infections with E. coli O26 via culture. The three patients ate at the restaurant in three separate meal parties. All of the patients developed one or more symptoms consistent with a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infection. … [Read more...]
McHenry County Outbreak Linked to D.C. Cobb’s Updated
The McHenry County outbreak in Illinois that is linked to D.C. Cobb's restaurant has been updated, according to the McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH). That restaurant is located at 1204 North Green Street in McHenry. The owner of the restaurant is fully cooperating with the investigation. According to the last update, on September 15, 2022, at least 16 people are sick after eating at that restaurant. The case count has not been updated. The newest update also said that MCDH launched their investigation after getting a call from the restaurant's owner and receiving complaints of illness from people who ate at the restaurant five to seven days earlier. That incubation period, if accurate, does provide some clues to the possible pathogen. Pathogens with that incubation time … [Read more...]
Buba Noodle Bar Salmonella Outbreak in NH Sickens Seven
A Buba Noodle Bar Salmonella outbreak in New Hampshire has sickened at last seven people, according to the New Hampshire Department of Health nd Human Services. The restaurant is located at 36 Lowell Street in Manchester. As of May 22, 2022, seven people have been diagnosed with Salmonella Enteritidis infections after eating at that location. One person has been hospitalized. Several other potential patients are under investigation. We do not know the illness onset dates or the ages of the patients. Buba Noodle Bar voluntarily closed on May 20, 2022 while a public health investigation is being conducted. The restaurant is partnering with public health officials to help find the source of these illnesses. Salmonella can contaminate food in several ways - through issues in the … [Read more...]
Employee at Luigi’s Restaurant in Roanoke, VA Diagnosed With Hepatitis A
An employee at Luigi's restaurant in Roanoke, Virginia was recently diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to the Virginia Department of Health. That employee may have had limited involvement handling food before the food was cooked. Cooking food kills the virus that causes hepatitis A, so this situation does not meet the criteria of an exposure. But, "given the high level of sensitivity of hepatitis A in our community and out of an abundance of caution," the Roanoke City Health Department is offering the hepatitis A vaccine to anyone who ate at Luigi's restaurant between the dates of April 26 through May 17, 2022. This is the same city where the Famous Anthony's hepatitis A outbreak occurred. That outbreak sickened and hospitalized dozens of patrons, and at least three people … [Read more...]
Montgomery County Updates Deadly Hepatitis A Restaurant Outbreak
Montgomery County has updated the deadly hepatitis A restaurant outbreak associated with Gino's Ristorante & Pizzeria with more information. Three deaths are linked to this outbreak. There are thirteen cases under investigation. Ten are confirmed and three remain suspect. Ongoing interviews with patients have confirmed that the exposure occurred in late November and no longer presents a risk to the public. MCOPH's Division of Environmental Field Services has lifted the closure of Gino's Ristorante & Pizzeria in West Norriton, Pennsylvania after a conducting a re-opening inspection on Thursday, January 20, 2022. During the inspection, public health officials emphasized the requirement of proper and thorough hand washing and glove/utensil use when handling ready-to-eat … [Read more...]
Gino’s Ristorante & Pizzeria Hepatitis A Outbreak Update
The Gino's Ristorante & Pizzeria Hepatitis A outbreak has been updated with more information, according to news reports. A second death has been confirmed, and a third death is being investigated in relation to this outbreak. Ten cases are confirmed and three probable cases are under investigation by public health officials. The outbreak was confirmed by the Montgomery County Health Department in Pennsylvania on January 7, 2021, and is associated with the restaurant at this time. The restaurant is located at 2401 Main Street in Norristown, Pennsylvania, located in West Norriton Township in that state. Gino's Ristorante & Pizzeria management has denied responsibility for the outbreak and has issued a statement that says, in part, "We offer our heartfelt condolences to the … [Read more...]
Gino’s Ristorante & Pizzeria Closed in Deadly PA Hepatitis A Outbreak Investigation
Gino's Ristorante & Pizzeria in West Norriton Township, Pennsylvania has been temporarily closed in the deadly hepatitis A outbreak announced this week by Montgomery County officials. The restaurant is located at 2401 Main Street in Norristown. The closure will remain in place while public health officials investigate this outbreak. As of January 7, 2021, 11 cases are under investigation. That is an increase of three cases since the outbreak was announced. Nine cases are confirmed. Of the nine people who are confirmed, seven have been hospitalized. One death is confirmed, and an additional death is under investigation. The exposure to the virus allegedly occurred in late November, 2021, according to the county press release. The source of the virus is under investigation. And … [Read more...]
Eight Sick and One Possible Death in PA Hepatitis A Outbreak
Eight people are sick and there is one possible death in a Pennsylvania hepatitis A outbreak that is associated with an unnamed Italian restaurant, according to a health advisory issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH) and the Montgomery County Office of Public Health (MCOPH). That restaurant is located in Montgomery County in Southeast Pennsylvania. The eight cases are all lab-confirmed. Of seven people who gave information to public health investigators about their health, six, or 86%, have been hospitalized. One death is under investigation at this time. Healthcare providers in the area should consider hepatitis A as a diagnosis in anyone who presents with jaundice or elevated liver enzymes and clinically compatible symptoms of the disease. All cases must be … [Read more...]
Lahaina Sports Bar in Lahaina, Hawaii Closed For Cockroaches
The Lahaina Sports Bar in Lahaina, Hawaii has been closed for a cockroach infestation, according to the State of Hawaii Department of Health (DOH). The bar, located at 843 Wainee Street, had a red placard issued on December 7, 2021. Both adult and juvenile cockroach activity was observed. The food establishment must remain closed until all of the violations noted are resolved and the DOH conducts a follow up inspection. Cockroaches can carry many pathogens that cause human disease, including Staphylococcus, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter Salmonella, and Giardia. They spread these pathogens through their saliva and through droppings and also through direct contact. The violations were found during a routine inspection. During that time, the DOH inspector noted that many … [Read more...]
Famous Anthony’s Hepatitis A Virginia Outbreak Sickens 50, 31 Hospitalized
The Famous Anthony's hepatitis A outbreak has now sickened 50 people and hospitalized 31 as of October 26, 2021, according to news reports. A sick employee worked at that restaurant in mid to late August 2021. The Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts reported the increase in cases. This is an increase of 13 patients since the last update two weeks ago. It typically takes 15 to 50 days after exposure to start experiencing symptoms of hepatitis A. That means the last day an illness may begin would be around October 15, 2021. No new cases have been reported since that incubation period passed, but it can take a few weeks before a person goes to a doctor, is diagnosed, and that diagnosis is reported to public health officials. One of the cases is a secondary infection, which … [Read more...]
