The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) is participating in a multi-state investigation of Salmonella infections among patrons of the Fig & Olive restaurant, West Hollywood. Twenty persons meeting a clinical definition for Salmonella reported eating at this restaurant between September 6 and September 11, 2015. Of these, seven have been confirmed by laboratory tests detecting the Salmonella. Investigation of the cases and their exposures (the foods they ate) is ongoing. In addition to patrons of the restaurant, three restaurant employees were identified with the same Salmonella type.
A cluster of cases with the same Salmonella type also occurred in Washington, DC and was associated with eating at the Fig & Olive restaurant there from late August through early-September.
This ongoing investigation is being coordinated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with participation by the Food and Drug Administration, and several state and local health departments including Public Health.
From the DC Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS):
The DC Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) are in close collaboration, continuing the surveillance, testing and reporting of food samples from the DC Fig and Olive food establishment. To date, DFS has tested 45 food samples and 15 environmental samples that have yielded negative Salmonella isolates; ten food samples are pending. To date, DFS has confirmed and reported that eleven human specimens, from DC hospitals, have yielded positive results for Salmonella Enteritidis and their DNA typing’s have been shared with the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and have been linked to this outbreak.
Several other states with Fig and Olive restaurants are reporting Salmonella cases. At this time, the CDC has confirmed that this is now a multiple state investigation tied to Fig and Olive food establishments and is working closely with each jurisdiction to assess the cases, analyze test results and identify possible trends or correlations. All inquiries regarding this national investigation should be directed to the CDC.
As of Wednesday, September 23, 2015, DOH has confirmed 14 cases of salmonella tied back to the DC Fig and Olive establishment. Interviews of those who reported illnesses are ongoing, to date, DOH has interviewed 135 persons.