Ouray News
Health officials unable to pinpoint food that has sickened more than 100 who ate at Ridgway’sTaco del GNAR
Three months after the first diner reported falling ill, federal and state health officials still haven’t pinpointed the source of contaminated food that has sickened more than 100 people who ate at Taco del GNAR in Ridgway.
Paul Galloway, a spokesman for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, said a total of 144 cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported thus far to the state involving Western Slope residents who did not travel internationally. Health officials have attempted to interview 143 people, with all but 10 of them reporting they ate at the Ridgway taco shop. Of the remaining 10, two said they didn’t eat at the restaurant, one wasn’t sure and seven couldn’t be reached for an interview, according to Galloway. He said the last known date someone ate at Taco del GNAR and contracted the parasite was June 10.
The number of people infected with the Cyclospora parasite is likely much higher than that reported by the state health department, because the confirmed cases reflect only those who have reported their symptoms to the state or sought medical treatment.
FoodWorld 