I’m confused, how many people were sickened with Salmonella at Bellevue IHOP? 3? 11? More?

As of July 9, 2024, Seattle-King County Health Department investigators reported 6 people sick with Salmonella linked to the Bellevue IHOP. According to the DOH:

• After being notified of three people who became sick after eating at the IHOP in Bellevue in October and November 2023, Public Health investigators requested source information and food receipts from the restaurant on January 11, 2024. Investigators visited the restaurant on January 16, 2024. Investigators reviewed the restaurant’s food preparation processes and did not identify factors that may have contributed to illnesses.
• On March 18, 2024, Public Health learned of someone who became sick after eating at this IHOP in Bellevue on February 26, 2024. Laboratory testing confirmed that this person had the same strain of Salmonella as the other people who became sick in this outbreak. In response, we re-opened this outbreak investigation.
• On April 2, 2024, Public Health visited the restaurant to take environmental samples. This means we tested various surfaces looking for Salmonella. We sent the samples to the Washington State Public Health Lab for testing.
• On April 10, 2024, one of the environmental samples came back positive for Salmonella which also matched the outbreak strain. That same day, Public Health ordered IHOP to close and conduct a thorough cleaning and disinfection.
• On April 12, 2024, Public Health visited the restaurant to confirm the deep cleaning was done appropriately, and the facility opened the same day.
• On May 24, 2024, Public Health learned of someone who became sick after likely eating at the IHOP in Bellevue on May 7, 2024. Laboratory testing confirmed that this person had the same strain of Salmonella as the other people who became sick in this outbreak. In response, Public Health ordered the IHOP in Bellevue to close until further notice.
• On Friday, June 7, 2024, the IHOP in Bellevue reopened after Public Health verified the facility had conducted extensive cleaning.
• On Thursday, June 27, 2024, Public Health ordered the IHOP in Bellevue to close again. This came after Public Health learned of another person who became sick after eating at this location. This person ate there on June 8, 2024, one day after the restaurant reopened after Public Health verified the facility had conducted extensive cleaning. Public Health will conduct environmental sampling of the location, to test various surfaces for Salmonella, before the facility is able to reopen.
• On Friday, June 28, 2024, Public Health tested various environmental surfaces at IHOP. All results came back negative for Salmonella (this does not completely rule out the possibility that Salmonella may still exist in the environment). Public Health required IHOP to do a thorough cleaning and disinfection of the restaurant. Public Health verified that the cleaning and disinfection had taken place, and IHOP was allowed to reopen Friday, July 5.
• This investigation is ongoing and we will continue to monitor the situation and provide further updates.

However, in documents we received in our investigation of the IHOP outbreak we learned that at least 11 people were sickened as of April 2024. It would be interesting to see if in fact that number has grown. See Report.

Seattle King County Department of Public Health investigated an outbreak of salmonellosis (caused by Salmonella bacteria) associated with IHOP in Bellevue. The people who became sick reported eating a wide variety of breakfast foods at IHOP. Public Health reopened the investigation on March 27, 2024, after another person tested positive with same strain of Salmonella. Additionally, we have received confirmation that IHOP in Bellevue received onions that was part of a national recall. We were able to positively detect the same strain of Salmonella at the facility that since closed and did a thorough cleaning before reopening.

11 people from 11 separate households reported becoming sick. The people who became sick ranged in age from 17 to 70 years old. All 11 people developed one or more symptoms consistent with salmonellosis, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, bloody stool, and fever. We did not identify any ill employees.

At the time of our initial posting, we disclosed three cases linked to this outbreak. Since we were able to detect Salmonella Thompson in the facility, and since the facility received onions linked to a larger outbreak, we are including cases that were not previously confirmed to be part of this outbreak.

Public Health conducted interviews with the people who became sick to identify potential common exposures and identified that six became sick after eating at IHOP in Bellevue. No specific food was identified. Environmental Health Investigators requested source information and food receipts from the restaurants on January 11, 2024. Investigators visited the restaurant on January 16, 2024. Investigators reviewed the restaurant’s food preparation processes and did not identify factors that may have contributed to the outbreak. The facility conducted a thorough deep cleaning and reinforced food safety training with staff. After receiving notice of the positive case in late March, Environmental Health Investigators visited the facility on April 02, 2024, to test for the Salmonella strain. After detecting Salmonella Thompson in the facility, the food service facility closed on April 10, 2024, to complete a thorough cleaning and disinfection. Environmental Health Investigators revisited the facility on April 11, 2024, and verified proper compliance with cleaning and disinfection. The food facility reopened on Friday, April 12th.

All 11 cases had testing that identified Salmonella infections via culture. Further testing found all 11 cases had the same strain of Salmonella based on genetic fingerprinting (whole genome sequencing or WGS) at the Washington State Public Health Laboratory.

Republished with permission from Bill Marler and Marler Clark. Copyright (c) Marler Clark LLP, PS. All rights reserved.