Search

"On Sunday, April 28, 2013, at 3:20 p.m., a Shawnee County hospital notified the Kansas Department of Health and Environment's Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Response section (KDHE) of a possible foodborne disease outbreak. The hospital reported that four patients from two different households sought care in the emergency department that afternoon after eating food from Carniceria Camecuaro, a restaurant and butcher shop located at 1016 SE 6th St., Topeka, Kansas. No other common exposures between the households were reported. KDHE immediately notified the Shawnee County Health Agency (SCHA) and the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA). KDHE recommended closing the restaurant, pending further investigation into the ill consumers. A KDA food inspector arrived at the restaurant at 4:30 p.m. A full inspection was not conducted, but the inspector checked temperatures of the food items being served: pork carnitas, pork al pastor, pico de gallo, tomato salsa, tomatillo salsa, and jalapeño and tomatillo salsa. The three salsas were all near 49°F, above the required cold holding temperature threshold of 41°F. Samples of these food items were collected. All three salsas on the make table in the front of the restaurant were discarded in a trash dumpster. The restaurant agreed to close voluntarily. The inspector instructed the establishment to close until a reopening inspection was conducted and to clean and sanitize all walls, fixtures, countertops, and food preparation equipment. The following day, Monday, April 29, at 3:56 p.m., a complaint was received by KDA regarding the same restaurant. The complainant stated that 25 pounds of pork carnitas were purchased on April 28, after the restaurant voluntarily closed. The pork carnitas were served at a private family event on the evening of April 28, along with rice, beans, and pasta salad prepared by family members. The complainant stated approximately 20 of 50 attendees became ill after eating at the event. In light of these additional illnesses caused by food sold after the restaurant voluntarily closed, KDA issued a temporary suspension order on April 30 to prohibit the restaurant from operating."

"On the morning of January 24, 2012, the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) received a foodborne illness complaint. The complainant became ill with gastrointestinal symptoms after dining at Lupita's Mexican Restaurant (732 S Kansas Avenue, Topeka, Kansas) on January 20, and was aware of others who experienced symptoms after eating there. The Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Response (IDER) section at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) was notified of the complaint at 9:20 a.m. Shortly after this complaint was received, IDER was made aware of another group of employees who also reported illness after eating at the restaurant on January 20. IDER notified the Shawnee County Health Department of these circumstances, and chose to lead the investigation rather than the local health department. By 10:38 a.m., a questionnaire was emailed to the complainant and the affected group of employees."

"On January 12, 2009, the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) was notified of a possible outbreak of gastrointestinal illness among individuals who shared a meal from the Coyote Canyon restaurant, 1251 S W Ashworth Place, Topeka, KS, 66604. The preliminary complaint indicated that a party of twelve ate the evening of January 9, and seven became ill the following day with diarrhea; two individuals sought care at a hospital. In response to this report, an outbreak investigation was initiated by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Shawnee County Health Agency (SCHA)."

"On March 3, 2008, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment's Bureau of Consumer Health (KDHE-BCH) notified KDHE's Office of Surveillance and Epidemiology (KDHE-OSE) of a possible foodborne illness outbreak. The complainant, an individual employed in Shawnee County, stated that 15 coworkers experienced gastrointestinal illness after eating sandwiches catered by Jersey Mike's Subs (2121 SW Wanamaker Rd, Suite 115, Topeka, KS) on February 27. KDHE-OSE and the Shawnee County Health Agency initiated an outbreak investigation to determine the source of the illness and to ensure appropriate control and prevention measures were implemented."

"On Wednesday, February 15, 2006, a food protection investigator at the Southeast District office of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) received approximately five phone calls from individuals who reported illness after eating at a Miami County restaurant the previous evening, February 14th. Two complainants provided their contact information. The food protection investigator notified the Epidemiology Services Section (ESS) of KDHE about the possible foodborne outbreak. ESS the Miami County Health Department (MCHD) initiated an outbreak investigation to determine the source of illness and to implement appropriate control and prevention measures. The restaurant owner mentioned to ESS that some of her teenage employees had called in sick, and that there was some illness circulating in their high school."