Salmonella Traced to Subway Sickens Nearly 100 in Ill.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has confirmed 97 cases of Salmonella serotype Hvittingfoss associated with the outbreak linked to Subway restaurants in 28 counties in Illinois between May 5 and June 4, 2010.

All 97 people are recovering, including 25 who had been hospitalized. Cases range in age from 2- to 79-years-old. A specific food source has not been identified in association with this outbreak. IDPH  continues to work closely with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the SUBWAY® Corp. and local health departments throughout the state to identify the source and prevent future illness.

The specific type of Salmonella involved in this outbreak is an uncommon serotype called Hvittingfoss. Typically, only one or two cases of this type of Salmonella are seen in Illinois each year.

To help prevent a secondary outbreak of Salmonella serotype Hvittingfoss associated with Subway restaurants in the state, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is requiring food handlers in 46 restaurants currently linked to the outbreak, to have two consecutive test results that are negative for Salmonella serotype Hvittingfoss before being allowed to return to work. On June 18, IDPH reported several food handlers at certain Subway restaurant locations in Illinois tested positive for Salmonella serotype Hvittingfoss.