- Credibility:
AVONDALE — Public health officials linked a salmonella outbreak that sickened 20 people and sent 10 to local hospitals to an Avondale Mexican restaurant that’s now closed pending an investigation.
As of Friday, 20 people were confirmed infected from the outbreak at Carniceria Guanajuato, a restaurant inside a grocery store at 3140 N. California Ave., according to the Chicago Department of Public Health.
Ten of those people were hospitalized, the agency said.
The restaurant voluntarily closed Sept. 8 and is now working with the health department on the investigation, which also involves the Illinois Department of Public Health. The source of the bacteria is still being probed, officials said.
Anyone who bought food from the taqueria or from the prepared food section of the grocery store should throw it away and not eat it, city health officials said. People who ate at the taqueria or bought prepared food from the grocery since Aug. 29 could also be exposed, officials warned.
City officials inspected the business and gave guidance on safe food handling practice and proper cleaning to stop the spread. They also warned local doctors about what to do if people come in showing symptoms of infection, officials said.
An infection can take between six hours and six days to develop. Symptoms from the bacterial infection usually last between four and seven days, and most people recover without treatment, public health officials said.
Older people or those with weakened immune systems can be more impacted. Symptoms include severe diarrhea, dehydration and high fever. Anyone experiencing symptoms should seek medical attention.
Anyone who developed a diarrheal illness after eating food from the restaurant is asked to contact the city’s public health department at outbreak@cityofchicago.org to file a suspected food poisoning complaint.
For more information on salmonella, go to www.cdc.gov/salmonella.
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