We continue to receive reports, we have over 100 now and it seems that they continue to come in. We are still waiting for test results, says Lovisa Grimsell, press spokesperson at the environmental administration in the City of Stockholm on Friday morning.
In total, the infection tracing covers 400 people who visited the restaurant between September 23-27, who have been contacted and urged to seek care if symptoms occur.
What is behind the outbreak is unknown. According to Lovisa Grimsell, the samples were sent in on Wednesday and are expected to take three to seven days to analyze.
We are going through all the reports we have received to map and identify patterns and are collaborating with Smittskydd Stockholm.
About 15 people in the Stockholm region were being treated at the hospital on Thursday with suspected listeria infection after eating at the restaurant. A dozen people in Uppsala, as well as several in Örebro, Kronoberg, and Västra Götaland have also needed to seek care.
Public Health Agency to analyze
On Thursday, the Public Health Agency announced that they have been connected to coordinate between the regions. The agency will also analyze whether the bacteria found in the outbreak are of the same strain.
Larger listeria outbreaks in Sweden are rare, but have previously been linked to the production of a particular food, for example, a cold-cut product that has been contaminated and then sold across the country.
That's what's a bit special about this outbreak and a bit worrying, that so many individuals have fallen ill in such a short time, says acting state epidemiologist Erik Sturegård.
Important to find source
He emphasizes that it is important to get to the bottom of where the infection comes from.
Generally, in all food outbreaks, it is very important to try to find the source of the infection, so that you avoid getting new cases. If there is contaminated or infected food somewhere, there is a risk until it has been destroyed.
The agency has no indications that this is the case.
The most likely explanation is that it is linked specifically to the restaurant visit. At present, I have no particular concern that something is being missed.
