Public Health is investigating a cluster of Salmonella cases reported in the past week, including 3 with links to a restaurant in Seattle’s Chinatown/International District. The first week of October saw 11 reports of suspected or confirmed salmonellosis, compared to 22 cases for all of September 2008.
Public Health requests that health care providers be alert for symptoms of salmonellosis such as fever, cramping, abdominal pain, and diarrhea that may be bloody. For patients with even mild symptoms consistent with salmonellosis, please obtain a history including recent travel, exposure to ill persons and animals, and a food history including all restaurant meals eaten within the 5 days prior to the onset of symptoms. Stool cultures should be requested to test for the presence of enteric pathogens including Salmonella, and if diarrhea is bloody, E.coli O157:H7. Cases of salmonellosis are immediately notifiable upon suspicion. Please report suspected and confirmed cases immediately to Public Health at 206-296-4774.
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