NSW Health has closed its investigation into the deadly salmonella outbreak that affected 32 people in aged-care facilities across the Illawarra, Shoalhaven and the ACT.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Director of Illawarra Shoalhaven Public Health Curtis Gregory said that since February 23, no additional residents had become unwell with salmonellosis.
The rare strain salmonella bovismorbificans was found in 32 infected residents at 10 aged-care facilities operated or supplied by IRT. Two of the residents have since died.
"We've deemed the outbreak is now over as more than four weeks has elapsed since the last confirmed case. This means any incubation period for additional cases has now passed," Mr Gregory said on Friday.
"Our activities during this outbreak centred on case investigation and monitoring the incidence of disease. There were a total of 32 cases, with an additional case within the established outbreak period being identified after patient review and further testing."
Mr Gregory said NSW Health continued to liaise with the NSW Food Authority and the aged-care facilities during the transition back to normal operations.
The Food Authority shut down Betta Maid - an IRT supplier - on March 5 after traces of the rare strain of salmonella linked to the outbreak were found in food samples and on a contact surface. The Food Authority confirmed this week the Unanderra wholesale bakery remained closed.