Clark County Public Health today lifted the closure order for On the Border restaurant, located at 1505 SE 164th Ave. in Vancouver. The restaurant was closed on October 9 to prevent the spread of salmonella following reports of salmonella cases among restaurant patrons.
“We believe there is no longer a risk of salmonella transmission to the public,” said Dr. Alan Melnick, Clark County Health Officer. “All restaurant surfaces and equipment have been inspected, cleaned and sanitized, and all potentially contaminated foods have been removed. All restaurant employees have been tested for salmonella and those free of infection have been cleared to return to work. This has been a challenging time for everyone involved, especially those who became ill. We appreciate the cooperation of restaurant staff and management through this process and are pleased that the restaurant can now reopen.”
As of 11 a.m. on October 14, there have been 23 confirmed and 54 probable cases of salmonella linked to this outbreak. Of the four cases that were hospitalized, three have been released. A source of the outbreak has not been identified.
Salmonella symptoms can include diarrhea (sometimes bloody), fever, chills, abdominal discomfort and vomiting. The symptoms generally appear one to three days after exposure. Most people recover on their own without medication.
Salmonella is a common bacterial infection. People are most often infected by eating or drinking contaminated food or water or by contact with infected people or animals. Salmonella is typically a food-borne illness acquired from contaminated raw poultry, eggs, and unpasteurized milk and cheese products. It can get on food or other objects and then into someone else’s mouth which can result in infection. People infected with salmonella can pass it on to others if they haven’t washed their hands, particularly after using the bathroom.