ACT Chief Health Officer Dr Paul Kelly today said that ACT Health is currently investigating an outbreak of Salmonella gastroenteritis linked to a local restaurant. Over 100 suspected cases of gastrointestinal illness have been reported among persons who ate at the restaurant. Twenty of these have had Salmonella confirmed by laboratory testing Fifteen people have been hospitalised.

“ACT Health is working closely with the restaurant to determine the cause of the outbreak,” Dr Kelly said.

The restaurant has been identified in Australian media as The Copa Brazilian Churrasco.

However, Dr. Kelly said the number of new cases appears to have peaked,  and emergency response protocols at Canberra Hospital and Calvary Hospital have been deactivated.

“Additional cases may continue to be identified, however the acute response phase of current operations is considered over.

Dr. Kelly also said today that ACT Health is investigating an outbreak of gastroenteritis linked to another food premises. Over 60 suspected cases of gastrointestinal illness have been reported among persons who ate at the premises on Sunday 12 May.

“No organism has been identified for the second outbreak. None of the cases associated with the second outbreak have been hospitalised.

 “Today the restaurant is closed and ACT Health is currently working closely with the restaurant’s management to establish the cause of the outbreak. The restaurant has provided names of bookings and ACT Health are contacting patrons of the restaurant.

“This outbreak is routine in nature and to date no one interviewed have sought medical attention at general practice or hospital as a result of this outbreak. People affected appear to be recovering quickly,” Dr Kelly said

“Symptoms have been including diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.