SOLANO COUNTY (KRON) — The Solano County Public Health and Environment is investigating a campylobacteriosis outbreak connected with a restaurant in Fairfield.

The restaurant is Alejandro’s Taqueria on Texas Street in Fairfield.

“There have been increased reports of laboratory-confirmed campylobacteriosis since the beginning of June,” Solano County Deputy Health Officer Dr. Michael Stacey said. “So far, 32 Campylobacter cases have been reported to us this month, almost double the number of reported cases that we had for the whole month of June in 2015.”

The affected people ate at the restaurant between May 26 and May 29, health officials said.

“Our top priority is the safety and health of the public,” Stacey said. “We are working with environmental health, our public health laboratory and the California Department of Public Health to identify the source of the outbreak and to prevent further cases from occurring. We will provide the public with more details once we obtain further information from the investigation.”

Officials closed the restaurant on June 8.

“To ensure that there is no further risk to the public, we are closing the restaurant as a precaution during the investigation,” Solano County Environmental Health Manager Jagjinder Sahota said. “The restaurant owners are cooperating with us fully.”

Symptoms of campylobacteriosis include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever.

“The diarrhea may be bloody and may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. People with diarrhea, especially children in day care and people who handle food, should not go to school, day care or work until 48 hours after their diarrhea ends. Almost all persons infected with Campylobacter recover completely,” county officials said in a press release.

Most cases of campylobacteriosis are linked to eating raw or undercooked poultry or from cross-contamination.

To prevent campylobacteriosis, county officials are urging the public to:

  •  Cook all meats, especially poultry, thoroughly. If you are served undercooked poultry in a restaurant, send it back for further cooking.
  •  Prevent cross-contamination in the kitchen by using separate cutting boards for raw meat or poultry and by carefully cleaning all cutting boards, countertops and utensils with soap and hot water after  preparing raw meat or poultry.
  •  Wash your hands with soap and water before preparing food and immediately after handling raw meat and poultry.
  •  Avoid drinking unpasteurized milk and untreated surface water.
  •  Wash your hands well with soap and water after using the bathroom, changing diapers, or handling pets, including animals at petting zoos. Make sure children also wash their hands well after going to the bathroom or handling pets.