Food Poisoning at Rediviva Restaurant: 15 Cases, 1 Hospitalized
The Rediviva Restaurant located in Aberdeen, Washington, has been closed temporarily due to a food poisoning outbreak. The restaurant, Rediviva, issued a statement that stated that the restaurant is complying with the local health department’s ongoing investigation to find the source of the outbreak. Upon information of a patron contracting Campylobacter jejuni, the Grays Harbor County Environmental Health Division conducted an inspection of the restaurant on February 25, 2020, and cited numerous health and safety violations. These multiple violations are believed to be the potential cause of the food poisoning outbreak sourcing back to the Rediviva Restaurant. The customer who reported the initial illness dinned at Rediviva eleven days earlier, but since the investigation began, there have been at least fourteen additional cases of food poisoning with one requiring hospitalization.
Although the investigation is still ongoing, health officials believe the food poisoning outbreak was caused by consumption of a chicken liver mousse dish. The chicken liver mousse was part of a Valentine’s Day special dinner that was offered at the restaurant from February 13th through February 21st.
According to health experts:
“Something to keep in mind is that Campylobacter is easily killed by thoroughly cooking poultry to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees. … It doesn’t spread easily to others, but it can result in serious illness, especially with those that are immunocompromised.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains, generally, that a Campylobacter infection is caused from ingesting the bacteria, often in raw or undercooked poultry, and is among the most common foodborne bacteria. Symptoms of Campylobacter present around two to five days after ingesting the bacteria and include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramping. Most patients will recover in about seven days and without any complications. However, antibiotic treatments might be required for the elderly, pregnant women, and others with a compromise immune system.
