McAlister's Deli Linked to North Carolina E. coli Outbreak
The Orange County Health Department is investigating McAlister's Deli on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, as the source of a recent E. coli outbreak that has sickened students attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. To date, there are 7 confirmed cases of E. coli poisoning, health officials are awaiting tests on at least 3 other people.
Donna King, public information officer at the department, said six of the seven people reporting the illness ate in the restaurant [McAlister's Deli on Franklin Street] between Oct. 23 and Oct. 25.
The Daily Tar Heel contacted three students with confirmed cases of E. coli infection, and all reported eating at McAlister's Deli on Oct. 24 - three days before they began to show symptoms, which include diarrhea that turns bloody.3 days is the average for the onset of E. coli poisoning symptoms. The evidence thus far is circumstantial, as E. coli has not been found in any food item at the restaurant. Investigators continue to look for the “smoking gun.”
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Source: Andrew Dunn, Officials eye E. coli source: Take hard look at McAlister's Deli, UNC Daily Tarheel, November 10, 2006.
