Wood River Salmonella Cases Linked to National Outbreak

By Belleville News-Democrat, Ill.

Jun. 25–The tomato salmonella outbreak officially hit the metro-east, with confirmation by the Madison County Health Department that three of the nine local cases matched the genetic fingerprint of the national outbreak.

Nine salmonella cases were confirmed after patrons ate at Los Tres Amigos, 180 Vaughn Road in Wood River. The restaurant has been closed since the illnesses were discovered last week, according to the Madison County Health Department.

Three of those cases had a genetic fingerprint matching the national outbreak. More than 650 people in 34 states and the District of Columbia have contracted salmonella from tomatoes, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

“The focus at this point of the investigation is to prevent additional illness from person-to-person transmission,” said Toni M. Corona, administrator at the health department.

To prevent the spread of salmonella, the health department recommends:

Thoroughly cooking food products.

Avoiding cross contamination.

Washing hands frequently while handling food and after using the bathroom.

Avoiding eating tomatoes not listed on the current Food and Drug Administration’s list available on www.madisonchd.org.

Ill persons in sensitive occupations — such as providing direct care to children, elderly and individuals with immunity problems — and persons who handle food should be restricted from work and tested if infection is possible.

Salmonellosis is often mistaken for the stomach flu and symptoms, which last from 24 hours to 12 days, include headache, muscle aches, diarrhea, chills, fever, nausea and dehydration. Symptoms usually appear six to 72 hours after ingestion, although longer incubation periods have been reported in this outbreak.

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