The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) has found traces of E. coli in a Bridgeport restaurant called Carbón Live Fire Mexican Grill. At least five people have been hospitalized after consuming contaminated food made in the place.
Carbón Live Fire Mexican Grill is located at 300 W. 26th Street. The outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC) may have affected at least 25 Chicago residents. The restaurant has decided to close its facilities voluntarily.
The CDPH is collaborating alongside the restaurant owners to eradicate the bacteria and reopen the restaurant. Symptoms produced by STEC include bloody diarrhea and hemolytic uremic syndrome, which leads to kidney failure.
People who ate at the restaurant in the past few days should attend a health care provider in case they note any STEC symptom. CDPH Commissioner Julie Morita said the institution is currently controlling the outbreak.
“This is a serious condition that is treatable. Anyone who believes they may be symptomatic and ate at this restaurant should see their medical provider immediately. CDPH is taking every precaution as part of our robust response to limit the impact of this outbreak.”
Carbón Live Fire Mexican Grill has closed a second restaurant in Chicago
STEC can be contracted after eating contaminated food such as undercooked beef, raw milk, unwashed fruits or raw produce, said the health department. The restaurant’s items contaminated with E. coli have not been identified yet.
The health department has already contacted physicians in the area to provide them medical guidance. According to the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), antibiotics and anti-diarrheal drugs may worsen the STEC effects.
Maria Loparco, who ate tacos at the restaurant last week, told CBS 2 she had bloody diarrhea and stomach pain. Physicians said on Thursday she had tested positive for E. coli. Most patients are being treated at home.
Dr. Alison Bartlett of University of Chicago Medicine told CBS the outbreak is “particularly virulent.” Carbón had not failed any health inspection over the last six years, according to city documents obtained by CBS.
Owners of the restaurant have closed a second facility at 910 N. Marshfield as a preventive measure, said the Chicago Sun-Times.
The CDC is investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli
The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration announced earlier in the week they are investigating a massive outbreak of Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli found in flour. At least 42 people have been infected with the outbreak in 21 states.
By Friday, there were 11 people in the hospital as a consequence of the outbreak. The health institutions are not sure about its origin. Some lab tests found a possible link between flour produced at a General Mills facility in Kansas City and the bacteria.
General Mills is recalling 10 million pounds of Gold Medal Flour. The brand said, “most strains of E. coli are harmless, but others can sicken people.” A company’s statement added that bacteria is often killed when flour is baked, fried or boiled.
Source: The Chicago Department of Public Health