Don Julio Mexican Restaurant Is Source of Mississippi Salmonella Outbreak
A Salmonella outbreak that has sickened dozens of people in Corinth, Miss. has been linked to Don Julio Mexican Restaurant and is no longer and ongoing public health threat, the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) said yesterday.
"Our investigation has shown that the incident does not appear to be a food producer or supplier issue," Northeast Mississippi District Health Officer Dr. Jessie R. Taylor, said in a statement. "It appears to be an isolated problem with this particular restaurant, and the restaurant is working closely with us to correct the problem."
The restaurant, which has been closed since December 8, will remain closed until an improvement plan is approved by the MSDH.
As of December 13, a total of 59 patrons and employees of Don Julio Mexican Restaurant in Corinth, had positive cultures confirming the presence of Salmonella. MSDH has notified area healthcare providers.
Salmonella is a bacteria that, if ingested, causes salmonellosis an infection that can be serious and sometimes fatal. Children are the most likely to get salmonellosis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The rate of diagnosed infections in children less than five years old is higher than the rate for all other age groups.
Symptoms of salmonellosis include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment,according to the CDC. In some cases, however, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient requires hospitalization. In these cases, the infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics.
Anyone with legal questions about an illness related to this outbreak can contact the foodborne illness lawyers at PritzkerOlsen P.A. for a free consultation.
