by Dan Flynn | Apr 30, 2010
Two locally popular restaurants on opposite sides of the country are proving once again that when it comes to eating and drinking establishments, going with the crowd is no protection from foodborne illness.
Popular restaurants--even those with good overall scores on restaurant inspections---can quickly spread a pathogen if they have unsanitary habits they cannot kick.
That may be the case for both Los Dos Amigos on Southeast Jackson Street in Roseburg, OR and Bullock's Bar B Que on Quebec Street in Durham, NC. Public health officials in Oregon and North Carolina believe the two restaurants may be responsible for unrelated Salmonella outbreaks.
The two outbreaks so far involve seven confirmed cases in Oregon, and at least 15 in North Carolina. Both outbreak investigations are continuing and additional testing now at laboratories is likely to raise the number of confirmed cases.
Salmonellosis is an acute bacterial infection that can cause diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramping, and sometimes vomiting. Symptoms usually develop within one to five days after exposure.