The majority of the cases have occurred among residents of Davidson County. We are asking anyone who became ill with diarrhea within four days after they ate food or drank beverages from Tarheel Q on or after Saturday, June 6th to call the Davidson County Health Department’s hotline at 336-242-2300. Collecting this information is important to help officials determine the size and scope of the outbreak.

Davidson County Health Department Press Release

262 cases of diarrheal illness associated with eating food from Tarheel Q Restaurant have been identified.

  • Of these 262, case distribution includes 20 North Carolina counties and 5 states
    • Of the North Carolina cases 73% 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 50 additional clinical specimens are pending results at the state lab
  • Of these 262 cases,
    • 58% are male
    • 42% are between the ages of 20 and 49
    • 19% have visited their provider
    • 12% have visited the ED
    • 7% have been hospitalized
    • 1 death has been identified (Further details regarding the deceased are not available to protect patient confidentiality.)
  • 81% of cases had illness onset dates between Tuesday, June 16, 2015, and Sunday, June 21, 2015.