Public Health Investigates E. coli Cases Linked to Torero’s Mexican Restaurant
Public Health officials have launched an investigation into an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infections, with a confirmed link to Torero’s Mexican Restaurant located in Renton, Washington. The outbreak is characterized by symptoms including diarrhea and abdominal pain among individuals who recently dined at the establishment.
To date, health authorities have not pinpointed the precise mode of STEC transmission within Torero’s Mexican Restaurant. It’s important to note that identifying the exact source in STEC outbreaks can be challenging. These bacteria are known to spread through various routes, including contaminated food products, contact with tainted environmental surfaces, and person-to-person transmission.
Confirmed Illnesses and Symptom Details
Since the beginning of September 2022, three individuals from three distinct dining parties have reported experiencing illness after consuming food from Torero’s Mexican Restaurant in Renton. The affected meals occurred on September 3rd and September 7th, 2022. All three individuals presented symptoms consistent with STEC infection. These symptoms include diarrhea, frequently bloody, accompanied by abdominal cramps, nausea, and vomiting. Notably, no restaurant employees have been identified as ill at this time.
Public Health Response and Restaurant Inspection
Upon receiving reports of potential foodborne illness, Public Health initiated interviews with the affected individuals to identify common exposures. By September 29, 2022, Torero’s Mexican Restaurant emerged as a shared food source among all three cases.
Environmental Health investigators conducted an on-site inspection of Torero’s Mexican Restaurant on September 30, 2022. The inspection revealed several potential risk factors that could have contributed to the outbreak. These included inadequate handwashing facilities for staff and improper storage practices for raw meat products. Restaurant management promptly addressed and corrected all critical violations during the inspection. A follow-up visit by Environmental Health investigators on October 3, 2022, confirmed the restaurant’s adherence to proper food handling protocols.
During the inspections, no employees reported being ill. Investigators reinforced with the restaurant management the policy that staff members experiencing illness must refrain from working until they have been symptom-free for a minimum of 24 hours. Educational materials were provided to Torero’s Mexican Restaurant staff regarding preventative measures against STEC spread. These measures encompassed proper handwashing techniques, preventing bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods, and emphasizing the importance of preventing cross-contamination during all stages of food preparation.
Laboratory Confirmation of STEC Infections
Laboratory testing provided definitive confirmation of STEC infection in all reported cases. Culture tests identified Shiga toxin-producing E. coli as the causative agent. Further genetic fingerprinting analysis, specifically Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) conducted at the Washington State Public Health Laboratory, revealed that all confirmed cases were infected with the same strain of STEC. This genetic link strengthens the evidence connecting the illnesses to Torero’s Mexican Restaurant.
