The Salmonella outbreak associated with Ajuua’s Mexican Restaurant in Odessa, Texas, has now caused 34 cases of Salmonella poisoning. There have been 11 laboratory confirmed cases, with another 23 probable cases. Testing has also revealed that 7 employees have Salmonella poisoning. However, health officials have not confirmed these employees as the source of the outbreak. The remaining 23 probable cases are being tested to confirm the presence Salmonella bacteria. People sickened by the outbreak range in age from 36 to 84 years old. The investigation, led by the Ector County Health Department, is ongoing.
The investigation began on June 3, after the Health Department began to receive reports of multiple illnesses from people who ate at Ajuua’s. On June 6, the outbreak was confirmed and Ajuua’s was notified. The restaurant promptly closed its doors for cleaning and inspections. An inspection done by the Health Department after the outbreak was confirmed rated the restaurant an 87 out of 100. Health officials found several violations at the restaurant, including no hand sanitizer near the hand sink, food not being properly separated, and food not being dated correctly in the walk-in cooler. Ajuua’s Mexican Restaurant reopened on Saturday, June 11, after cleaning and a meeting with the Health Department. Julian Rubio, CEO for Ajuua’s, has said that the restaurant was inspected on June 11 and June 12, and scored 100 and 98, respectively.
Salmonella bacteria is one of the most common causes of gastrointestinal illness in America. The CDC estimates that Salmonella causes about 1.2 million cases of illness per year. A case of Salmonella poisoning usually produces symptoms between 12 and 72 hours after infection. Symptoms of Salmonella poisoning typically include vomiting, abdominal cramping, fever, and nausea. Generally, an infection will go away on its own within a week, although Salmonella infections may worsen. Those with certain risk factors, including children, the elderly, and those with suppressed immune systems may be at an increased risk of developing a serious case of Salmonella poisoning.
If you or a loved one begins to show the symptoms of Salmonella poisoning, the first thing you should do is contact a medical professional. If you are diagnosed with a Salmonella infection, and feel that the restaurant may be responsible for your illness, you may be able to seek compensation for any losses you may have incurred. The lawyers at Merman Law Firm have years of experience in food poisoning cases, and we will work tirelessly to recover any losses due to medical bills, pain, suffering, and lost wages. If you think that you may have a case, fill out our free evaluation form.
