A Salmonella outbreak at La Luz Mexican restaurant in Old Town Fort Collins, CO has sickened six people, hospitalizing five of them, according to the Larimer County health department. Additional cases are pending.
Those sickened in this outbreak ate at the restaurant, located at 200 Walnut St. in Old Town Fort Collins, CO, sometime after August 1. The restaurant has voluntarily closed until more information about the outbreak becomes available. Other La Luz locations are not affected by this outbreak.
At this point in the investigation, it’s too early to tell why the hospitalization rate is so high, he said. It could be a particularly virulent strain of Salmonella or that the food source of the outbreak was contaminated with a high number of bacteria.
During a routine inspection by the health department last week, the restaurant was cited for multiple temperature violations and for flies in the kitchen. Those issues had been addressed at the time of a followup inspection.
Salmonella Food Poisoning
Salmonella bacteria are found in the intestinal tracts of humans and other animals and are shed in their feces. Food can be contaminated during slaughtering or when people handle food without washing their hands after using the bathroom.
Symptoms of an infection include diarrhea that can sometimes be bloody, fever, abdominal cramps, and vomiting. Usually, symptoms appear between six and 72 hours after eating contaminated food and last about a week. Hospitalization is required in cases where the infection migrates from the intestines to the bloodstream and in cases where symptoms have caused serious dehydration.
If you have been sickened in this outbreak and would like a free consultation with the Salmonella legal team at Pritzker Hageman, call 1 (888) 377-8900 (toll-free) or use this online form. Our Salmonella lawyers have represented clients nationwide who have been sickened by contaminated food and have recovered millions for them.