University of Wisconsin-Madison’s University Health Services (UHS) sent out an email to campus members Friday afternoon alerting them of potential exposure to Salmonella Typhi, the bacteria that causes Typhoid fever.
UHS and Environment, Health & Safety said they were notified of a typhoid fever case in a campus member who worked at Capital Café, inside of Grainger Hall, while infectious. UHS sent the email to campus members who visited Capital Café on Jan. 29 or 30.
The case originated off-campus and was not contracted at Capital Café or any other campus dining location, UHS said. While the email said the “risk of exposure is quite low,” it offered details about symptoms students should look out for.
Salmonella Typhi is a bacteria that causes typhoid fever, a serious illness which impacts the digestive system and can spread throughout the body if untreated. Unlike common foodborne illnesses caused by other types of Salmonella, Typhoid fever requires antibiotic treatment. Typhoid fever spreads when an infected person prepares food or drinks, and symptoms can include fever, chills, abdominal pain, diarrhea and rash.
This exposure to students comes just a week after a possible hepatitis A exposure was linked to Rheta’s Market.
UHS Executive Director Jake Baggott told The Daily Cardinal in an email Friday that Environment, Health & Safety maintains strong protocols to ensure health and safety of campus food service facilities.
“As soon as an infectious disease case is identified, UW-Madison's Environment, Health, & Safety begins working with University Health Services to respond, per usual practice, and conduct an epidemiological investigation,” Baggott said.
Baggott added that campus dining staff are informed to remain home when sick and report illness to their supervisor, and all food service managers were reminded on Thursday of the guidelines.
Capital Café will be open on Monday after a “deep cleaning” was conducted “in collaboration with Environment, Health and Safety,” Baggott said.
