SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Metropolitan Health district said Monday there are now 18 confirmed cases of people testing positive for salmonella and 347 people who have reported getting sick after eating at Pasha restaurant on Wurzbach Road over the Labor Day weekend.
Every person who calls Metro Health is called back and interviewed over the phone, but is not necessarily tested.
Metro Health's epidemiologists make the calls and ask a series of questions.
"We start with, 'What are your signs and symptoms? When did it begin.? How did it begin? Where did you eat when you started experiencing this?" said Dr. Anita Kurian, assistant director of Metro Health.
"An overwhelming (amount) of these folks that we called and interviewed have indicated that they ate at Pasha and then came down with illness within 12 to 72 hours."
Kurian said since Pasha reopened Wednesday, no problems have been reported.
"Were trying to see if it's a contaminated food source," Kurian said. "Was it a food handler that was sick and continued to work and then serve food while the person was sick?"
Bilal Deiri of Pasha said in the 10 years of being in business, they haven't had any problems aside from this incident and that there have been no reports of people getting sick at their three other locations.
"The messages and comments we've been receiving from so many people has been a light in that little bit of darkness that we've experienced," Deiri said. "And right now, our main goal is just to reassure everybody, rebuild that trust and make sure everyone understands it's safe."
Deiri said they have been working with Metro Health to pinpoint the source.
"We're trying to be as vigilant as possible in checking everything and anything with them to make sure whatever it is has stopped," Deiri said. "So far, it looks like it has."
Sonia Lopez has been a customer at Pasha for years and said she will keep coming back to the restaurant.
"I always enjoy the food," Lopez said. "It's authentic. I always have a nice experience here."