By NewsDesk  @bactiman63

In the city of Sarnia in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, officials with Lambton Public Health (LPH) report investigating an outbreak of Salmonella infection in people who recently ate at the Barakat restaurant.

Ontario map/public domain wikimedia commons

As of Friday, LPH has received laboratory confirmation of four cases related to this outbreak. The department is currently following up with several others who have reported becoming ill after eating at this restaurant.

The investigation into the source of this outbreak is ongoing. The owners of the restaurant are cooperating with Lambton Public Health and have voluntarily closed while LPH ensures there is no on-going risk of illness.

Members of the public who ate at the Barakat restaurant between October 21st and October 29th and became ill with symptoms of Salmonella infection (diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, vomiting) are advised to:

  • Report the illness to Lambton Public Health at 519-383-8331 or toll free 1-800-667-1839
  • Contact their health care provider as needed if symptomatic

Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.