A047 were notified to the Communicable Disease Control Branch. The epidemiological investigation found that five of the six cases had eaten food at a local Chinese restaurant on 24 and 25 December 1999. No other risk factors were identified. The one case who ate at the restaurant on Christmas Eve ordered individual dishes from the restaurant menu.
All food including sauces and fillings for spring rolls is prepared at the restaurant.
Subsequent microbiological sampling on fresh and pre-prepared foods and equipment and environmental surfaces was negative. Restaurant staff did not report gastrointestinal illness or overseas travel within the previous six months.