BATAVIA – Aliano's Ristorante in downtown Batavia remained closed Tuesday as the Kane County Health Department continues to investigate six cases of salmonella that could be linked to the restaurant.
"The restaurant can't open until it is safe to do so," Kane County Health Department spokesman Tom Schlueter said on Tuesday. He said the restaurant's owners voluntarily closed the restaurant Friday and are fully cooperating with the investigation.
A note on the door of the restaurant, at 90 N. Island Ave., apologized for the inconvenience and stated it would reopen in a couple of days. The restaurant's owners, Mario Aliano and his brother, Phil Aliano, could not be reached for comment.
Six customers who tested positive for salmonella reported eating at Aliano's, Schlueter said. One customer was hospitalized but since has recovered, he said.
As part of the investigation, the health department will look into what food the customers ate and whether they had dined at any other restaurant in the area. The department also will be testing Aliano's employees for salmonella, Schlueter said.
"It (salmonella) can spread from humans to food," Schlueter said. "There's no clear cause right now. It's possible the source will never be known."
Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, the website stated, and most people recover without treatment.
So far this year, the county has had 71 cases of salmonella, Schlueter said. Kane County had 108 cases last year, and 85 cases in 2010, he said.
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