This news item expired on Thursday, May 31, 2012 so the information below could be outdated or incorrect.
May 3, 2012, 12:22 p.m.: Buncombe County Department of Health has just received positive news related to the Salmonella outbreak. Based on continuing testing of laboratory results following CDC recommendations, lab test results today confirmed that the bacteria associated with the Buncombe Salmonella outbreak is Salmonella Paratyphi B but the good news is that it is a particular strain that causes symptoms that are less severe and doesn’t require control measures that are quite as strict.
Disease Control nurses are busy contacting 12 of the cases who have been restricted from work, some who may be able to return to work today. The changes in the control measures also means that new cases will not be required to take antibiotics unless they have special health issues.
Gibbie Harris, Health Director is available for in-person interviews between noon and 2:00 p.m. today but is available do phone interviews after this timeframe. Please arrange interviews by contacting the media phone: 828.775.1321.