Salmonella Outbreak Sickens Several in Skagit County

Mount Vernon, WA – A Salmonella outbreak in Skagit County has sickened at least six people in the last week.

According to an email  from Bronlea Mishler, Skagit County Communications Coordinator, local hospitals reported on Monday,  June 25th and Tuesday, June 26th to Skagit County Public Health Officials that three patients had tested positive for Salmonella Cultures in Skagit County.  The first symptoms of illness were reported to have begun on Saturday, June 23rd.

Salmonella are bacteria that can make people sick with an infection called salmonellosis. Salmonella bacteria live in the intestines of people and animals and  are usually transmitted to humans  when they eat foods contaminated with animal feces.  Salmonella  can also be transmitted through contact with animals or their environment. Contaminated foods are often of animal origin, such as beef, poultry, milk or eggs, but any food, including fruits and vegetables, may become contaminated.

During the case investigation by Skagit Public Health Department staff, each patient reported having eaten at Jorge’s Kitchen located inside Little Mountain Grocery at 1725 E. Blackburn Road in Mount Vernon.   Since then, Public Health Officials have been notified of three additional confirmed cases at local of hospitals of Salmonella. Each of the additional three patients also reported eating at Jorge’s Kitchen prior to becoming ill.  Public Health officials have found no other common exposure other than Jorge’s Kitchen,  but the investigation is ongoing.

Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps between 12 and 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most individuals recover without treatment. In some cases, diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. In these patients, the Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream, and then to other body sites. In these cases, Salmonella can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness.

The current owners of Jorge’s Kitchen began operating on March 1st, 2018. The Establishment has operated under various ownerships since at least 2007.

During a June 14th, Health Inspection, a Public Health Inspector reported food safety code violations and notified the owners that the restaurant must be shut down to be in compliance with Food Safety requirements.  These violations included Inadequate temperature control of potentially hazardous cold and hot foods, bare-hand contact with ready to eat food (improper/no use of gloves), lack of proper cooing procedures, foods sitting at room temperature that should be (both hot and cold), and no adequate sanitizer.

The owners came to the Public Health Office on the following morning, Friday, June 15th,  for an office visit and a risk control plan.  The restaurant was allowed to reopen after a re-inspection found that the food safety code violations had been addressed.

On Friday, June 22nd a customer of Jorge’s Kitchen reported a complaint to the Public Health Department that they had observed bare-hand contact with food at the restaurant.  The restaurant owners were then notified of the complaint by the Public Health Department.

On Monday, June 25th, reports of the Salmonella illnesses from local hospitals prompted a Public Health Inspection and investigation. During the Investigation of the restaurant that same day, the repeated critical violations prompted immediate closure of the restaurant.  On Tuesday, June 26th, the operators of the business were notified by Public Health Officials that they were at risk of having their permit revoked.

Public Health has twice invited the operators of Jorge’s Kitchen to their office to develop a risk control plan, which is a plan to correct the violations and prevent them from happening again.  Due to the fact that the restaurant permit has been revoked by Public Health Officials  for repeated food safety violations, by law, the operators of Jorge’s Kitchen now have 14-calendar days to appeal the closure of the restaurant.  If they appeal, the Health Officer will hold a hearing and determine whether the establishment can reopen, or whether the permit will be revoked. If the permit is revoked, the operator cannot reapply for a food permit for at least six months, according to Mishler. If the operators do not appeal, the permit is automatically revoked after the 14-day period.

The Skagit County Public Health Department is the lead agency investigating this incident and have notified and consulted the Washington State Department of Health. The Public Health’s responsibility in this incident is to contain the Salmonella Outbreak. In this case, they have contained the outbreak by revoking the operators  permit and closing the restaurant.

When new restaurants open in Skagit County, Skagit County Public Health does an initial opening inspection, then follow-up inspections about one month later. Additional inspections are scheduled based on the risk level of the establishment, typically once or twice per year. Inspections can happen at random and more often as needed. If critical violations are found during an inspection, Public Health does a re-inspection to assure corrections have been made and business operators are in compliance with Food Safety requirements.

What can you do to ensure you are eating at a restaurant with a clean health inspection report?  Restaurants in Skagit County that have received four clean health inspections are awarded a blue ribbon certificate for public display. Look for those if you are eating out. Also, know what safe food handling procedures are, and safe food cooking temperatures. Visit the Skagit County Public Health website for more information by clicking here.  

Mishler wrote, “If you think your food looks undercooked, or doesn’t taste right, let the restaurant know. Don’t put yourself or your family at risk.”

The Skagit County Department of Public Health takes complaints regarding food safety and foodborne illness seriously.  To report a foodborne illness, call the Skagit County Department of Public Health at (360) 416-1500.  Be prepared to provide what and where you ate for the three days prior to becoming ill. Most foodborne illnesses have an incubation period. It may help to write down when your symptoms occurred and your three-day food history prior to calling.