Laboratory tests have shown dozens of people have Salmonella infections linked to two Mexican restaurants in Boston.
There are now 45 confirmed patients, up from 33 earlier this week, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
Patients report eating at Los Amigos Mexican Grill taquerias in Brighton Center and West Roxbury. Of the 45 confirmed patients, 29 are from Boston. Additional illnesses have been reported but have not yet been confirmed by laboratory testing.
The two restaurants have been closed by authorities who have cited health code violations. Los Amigos Mexican Grill taquerias in Brighton Center and West Roxbury have also had their operating permits temporarily suspended.
“We encourage residents who visited the Brighton location between May 12-18 to self-monitor for symptoms of Salmonella infection, such as fever, diarrhea and abdominal pain, and to contact a health care provider. medical attention for evaluation and testing, if applicable,” a doctor said. the department spokesman said.
Salmonella is a notifiable disease, so public health officials should be notified of any patient.
Health inspectors report finding “visible dirt,” “mold-like substances,” and rodent droppings.
At the West Roxbury restaurant, inspectors found “no verifiable evidence of disease policy training” and no one was in charge of monitoring food temperatures. They said, “Only one employee washed their hands properly between tasks,” and a spatula was found stored in standing water.
“Multiple rodent droppings were found in pineapple cans, a bag of pinto beans, single-use drink holders, on storage tables, and on the floor,” the report states.
Health officials have not said when they will reinstate restaurant licenses.
According to city inspection reports, one of the six failures identified included “multiple reports of a foodborne illness from items consumed at this location. . . Samples of the items involved were taken and chilled/stored under refrigeration. All food has been seized. The owner has been instructed not to handle any food at this time without approval from the Division of Health.”
On January 13, the West Roxbury location was cited for multiple violations, including chicken being kept at the wrong temperature, which can lead to the growth of pathogens.
About Salmonella infections
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria usually does not look, smell or taste bad. Anyone can get sick with a Salmonella infection. Babies, children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile, according to the CDC.
Anyone who has eaten at the implicated restaurants and has developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are needed to diagnose salmonellosis. The symptoms of Salmonella infection can resemble those of other diseases, often leading to misdiagnosis.
Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours of eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, the diarrhea can be so severe that patients require hospitalization.
Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop serious, sometimes life-threatening illnesses and conditions.
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