Health Law

90 Confirmed with Salmonella in Subway Outbreak

By Dan Flynn and Suzanna Schreck

There are now 90 confirmed cases of Salmonella associated with Subway restaurants according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Those who have become ill with Salmonella serotype Hvittingfoss range in age from 2 to 79 and reported eating at Subway restaurants located in 28 counties:  Bureau, Cass, Champaign, Christian, Coles, Dekalb, DeWitt, Ford, Fulton, Henry, Knox, LaSalle, Livingston, Macon, Marshall, McLean, Moultrie, Ogle, Peoria, Rock Island, Sangamon, Schuyler, Shelby, Tazewell, Vermilion, Warren, Will and Winnebago.

A specific food source has not yet been identified in association with the Subway Salmonella outbreak, although the Illinois Department of Public health is working closely with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Subway restaurant chain and local health departments throughout the state to identify the source of illness.

To help prevent a secondary outbreak of Salmonella serotype Hvittingfoss associated with Subway restaurants in the state, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is requiring food handlers in the 46 restaurants currently linked to the outbreak to have two consecutive test results that are negative for Salmonella serotype Hvittingfoss before being allowed to return to work.

The Illinois Department of Public Health stated the investigation is ongoing and numbers will be updated if additional cases are identified.

Full post as published by Food Safety News on June 19, 2010 (boomark / email).