Carrie Williams, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), told local reporters that the X-10 Woodfire Steakhouse was closed after 30 cases of salmonellosis were linked to the establishment in Dalhart, Texas. The closure, which was voluntary, coincided with an investigation into the cause of the large Salmonella outbreak, which included swabs and sampling of the food on hand at the X-10 restaurant. The swabbing and testing were all negative, but this is often the case according to Salmonella Lawyer Ron Simon. Simon explains “the food that is served during an outbreak of salmonella is often gone by the time the restaurant is tested by the health departments following an outbreak. The investigators usually do not show up at an establishment for a week to a month after victims are sickened, mostly because it takes time for salmonella illness to present, to be properly diagnosed, and to be reported. Then, a health department needs to contact the victims and begin the process of interviewing them to see where they have eaten. This process takes time, and by the time investigators identify the likely source, the food has often been completely rotated out. If the restaurant is cleaning surfaces, the bacteria should already be gone, as was the case here.”
The victims of the X-10 Salmonella outbreak, who contracted salmonellosis, suffered nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, among other symptoms, like headaches, body aches, and abdominal pain. Dr. Roger Smalligan, who serves as the Director of Health Authority for Potter and Randall County, told local reporters that the victims “are sick from four to seven days. With all those symptoms. You don’t feel well. So, you really don’t want to have this one. This one lasts longer than your average little GI bug.” In some cases, salmonellosis can lead to long-term illnesses, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD).
DSHS’ Carrie Williams says the investigation is far from over, and that DSHS will continue to monitor lab results, medical records, and conduct interviews of potential victims, watching for additional cases of salmonellosis in and around Potter and Randall Counties. In Amarillo, which is the largest city in the area, Williams says there has also been an uptick in Salmonella cases, though so far they have not been linked directly to the X-10 Woodfire Steakhouse. These cases do represent a spike in overall salmonella cases in the area, giving rise to some concern, Williams noted.
For more information, or to speak to a Salmonella Lawyer, call 1-888-335-4901 or 713-306-3880.
