The Illinois Department of Public Health and local health departments throughout the state are investigating the cause of Salmonella illnesses among customers who ate at certain Subway restaurants in Illinois. To date, 34 cases of Salmonella have been confirmed with this outbreak and all are recovering, of which 14 had been hospitalized.
Salmonella cases identified in this outbreak reported eating at Subway locations in 14 counties, including Sangamon, Schuyler, Christian, Bureau, LaSalle, Cass, Champaign, Peoria, Shelby, Warren, Macon, Ogle, Fulton and Tazewell. At this point in the investigation, no cases have reported eating at Subway restaurants in either northeastern or southernmost portions of Illinois. Illnesses are reported to have started between May 14 and May 25 and cases range in age from six-years to 88-years-old.
The specific type of Salmonella involved in this outbreak is a rare serotype called Hvittingfoss. Typically, only one to two cases of this type of Salmonella are seen in Illinois per year.