24 probable, 3 confirmed with Salmonella linked to Texas restaurant

The Odessa American reports Ector County Health Department Director Gino Solla said Friday afternoon the total number of people who have lab-confirmed cases of salmonella has increased by one, bringing the total number to three.

ajuua'sSolla also said the restaurant where the people got the illness, Ajuua’s Mexican Restaurant, will open Saturday after several of the employees tested negative for salmonella.

Nine of the business’ employees tested negative for salmonella, Solla said, and a new hire was made, allowing them to operate with a skeleton crew.

The restaurant, at the request of the health department, closed their doors Monday after complaints were made by residents who said they got sick after eating at the restaurant on June 1. Solla said there are also 24 probable cases.

The investigation started around 4:15 p.m. June 3 after officials with the health department got a call saying 10 people had gotten sick after eating at Ajuua’s, Solla said. After getting reports one person in that group did have salmonella, they visited the restaurant and asked them to voluntarily close down.

An inspection was also done for the restaurant, with the store getting a rating of 87 out of 100. The store was reported as being out of compliance on several issues, such as not keeping food separated and protected during preparation, food was not dated in the walk-in cooler, no hand sanitizer for the hand sink and there were no paper towels in the men’s restroom.