illustration-of-structure-of-salmonella-b-john-bavosiNot a likely marketing strategy.

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reports tonight that 216 people have developed a Salmonella infection linked to Tarheel Q restaurant in Lexington, North Carolina.

Case distribution includes 15 North Carolina counties and 5 states. Of the North Carolina cases 77% of cases are residents of Davidson County and Davie County.

Laboratory testing indicates that the BBQ sample and a sample from a patient who became ill during the beginning of the outbreak are both positive for Salmonella species. The serogroup was found to be Typhimurium. Both samples have the same PFGE pattern (i.e. DNA fingerprint).

Over 20 additional clinical specimens are pending results at the state lab.

Of these 216 cases:

  • 56% are male
  • 43% are between the ages of 20 and 49
  • 20% have visited their provider
  • 12% have visited the ED
  • 6% have been hospitalized
  • No deaths due to Salmonella infection have been identified
  • 82% of cases had illness onset dates between Tuesday, June 16, 2015, and Sunday, June 21, 2015.