At least 105 people now have confirmed or suspected Salmonella infections after eating at mexican-style restaurant On the Border in Vancouver, Wash., Clark County Public Health told Food Safety News Thursday. Six have been hospitalized
That number includes 34 laboratory-confirmed cases and 71 suspected. Suspected cases are those with known exposure and corresponding symptoms.
Nearly all of the victims are Washington residents, though a select few are from Oregon.
Salmonella Virchow, the bacteria at the center of the outbreak, is relatively rare in the U.S. The Washington State Department of Health has posted these illnesses on PulseNet, a national epidemiology network, in an effort to track other potential Salmonella Virchow outbreaks around the country.
The restaurant was allowed to reopen this week after a temporary closure. As health officials continue to investigate the source of the outbreak, they have stated that it may prove impossible to determine.
Marler Clark has filed the first three lawsuits on behalf of customers.