November 2, 2020 2:44 p.m.
There are now 15 cases of salmonella food poisoning linked to an outbreak at Sarnia’s Barakat on Lambton Mall Road.
Lambton Public Health announced Friday, October 30, that four cases have been confirmed and that it is following up with several other people who have reported their illness.
The medical officer for health, Dr. Sudet Renad, said Monday that the numbers have increased significantly.
“We now have 15 laboratory confirmed cases of salmonella and more than 100 people who have responded to our symptom survey to say they have experienced symptoms and may have been exposed to eating in the facility within the time period we specified.”
Dr. Renad said that the health unit is still waiting for the results to see if it can identify a specific source.
“ But overall, this part of the investigation always takes time – it relies on labs, lab tests, samples and things like that – but we have a really good working relationship with this facility and the inspections have gone well there – I haven’t identified any major issues in terms of The likely cause from this perspective. ”
The restaurant was voluntarily closed while the investigation was underway.
The Health Unit still advises anyone who ate at Barakat Mediterranean Cuisine between October 21 and October 29 and has symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, and vomiting, to contact Lambton Public Health at 519383-8331.
