The BCHD official news release:
“The Buncombe County Department of Health reports that 5 more cases of Salmonella Paratyphi B were identified over the weekend, bringing the total to 34, as of Monday, April 30, 2012. The local health department is working with NC Department of Public Health, Center for Disease Control, US Department of Agriculture and others to continue intensive testing, interviewing, and epidemiological investigation of the outbreak in order to squelch the spread of the disease. Cases still appear to have been associated with residence or travel to Buncombe County since February 28, 2012. A single source of infection has not been confirmed.
As much as the public wants to know which foods or restaurants should be avoided, state and local health officials do not have final laboratory test results that would allow conclusive identification of a specific source of salmonella contamination.
Gibbie Harris, Health Director states that at this point in the investigation it is better to broadly implement control measures than to speculate or falsely identify a source. Based on the preliminary lab findings Control Measures have been issued to food establishments in Buncombe County by Environmental Health Specialists. Asheville Independent Restaurant Association (AIR) is voluntarily working with the health department to educate food workers and heighten awareness of ways to prevent the spread of disease.”
For updates, visit buncombecounty.org/health.
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