The Allegheny County Health Department has confirmed that 12 employees and customers of The Porch restaurant in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Oakland have been infected with E. coli O157:H7. Nine others have suggestive symptoms but could not be confirmed. Most of the people who got sick ate hamburgers, and laboratory tests for E. coli O157:H7 detected the bacteria on some samples of ground beef patties. But officials have been unable to tell whether the bacteria came into the facility on beef that the restaurant purchased or it spread via food handling. Eight people were hospitalized, but none with serious complications. All individuals are recovering. The restaurant voluntarily closed on Wednesday, Oct. 30, and was approved to reopen the following day. No further cases have been reported since then. Every employee was tested by the health department before being cleared to return to work. “The Porch has fully cooperated and assisted with the Health Department investigation and has taken appropriate steps to ensure the safety of all its employees and customers,” said Health Director Dr. Karen Hacker in a statement.
