Recently, Athens City and County Health Department officials have been investigating an outbreak of salmonella food poisoning in Athens OH. Chuck Hammer, administrator, states that to date 12 people have developed symptoms after eating at Casa Lopez restaurant on East State Street.
According to Hammer, six have been hospitalized and positive test results have come back on three of the individuals involved. So far, investigations done at Casa Lopez have uncovered nothing that would warrant closing the restaurant, and Casa Lopez remains a licensed operation. Several items were taken from the restaurant for testing. Hammer also stated that many of the victims have what he calls a similar food history.
Update: As of May 8, press reports state that 22 people have become ill after eating at Casa Lopez. According to the health department, each one of the people ate at the restaurant over the weekend, but there has yet to be anything discovered that reveals the contamination source.
Now, positive confirmations of salmonella have been seen in 7 of he cases reported. Results are pending on the rest, but customers of the restaurant feel that the source of the salmonella contamination was brought in to the restaurant, and that the outbreak was not due to anything that Casa Lopez did wrong.
Salmonella food poisoning usually results in only mild symptoms in healthy individuals, but can become a serious concern in certain groups of people. Young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk of developing serious complications. If you suspect salmonella food poisoning, seek medical attention. If you find yourself in need of a salmonella attorney, consider visiting Brown Chiari.
Common symptoms of salmonella include diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramps and occasionally fever. These symptoms generally last only a few days in healthy individuals.