The origin of the salmonella typhimurium outbreak that has affected at least 31 people on the island was in a batch of cheese from the La Flor de Teguise cheese factory. This has been confirmed by the Health Department, which has reported that the analysis carried out on the cheese that some of those affected by this bacteria still had in their homes has tested positive for salmonella. These were three different samples, from those affected who "were not related to each other", something that for Public Health confirms that the origin of the outbreak was "in the consumption of that cheese" in particular. According to the Ministry, only some cheeses from a specific batch were contaminated. However, it is unknown how the bacteria reached them.
This confirms one of the hypotheses considered by the Health Department, which suggested that it was a batch that had already been distributed when the outbreak became known that caused the poisoning. The analysis carried out on the cheeses in those facilities on February 5, when the poisoning became known and the inspectors were moved there, had tested negative. The results of the analysis carried out on two other samples taken in retail establishments are also known, and have tested negative. This, according to the Epidemiology section of Public Health, "rules out" the shops where the samples were taken. Otherwise, "not only would the cheeses have been contaminated, but other foods or other cheeses would have been contaminated, not all from the same company", they point out.
Based on these positive and previous negative analyses, the Health Department believes that it is something "specific". This is what he told La Voz, stressing that the cheeses that La Flor de Teguise has produced after that date are also testing negative for salmonella. The department is now maintaining the "prohibition" on the cheese factory from distributing its products.
The result of these analyses narrows down the possibilities, but still does not clarify how these foods were contaminated. "We are still investigating the possible causes", they have pointed out in this regard from the Health Department. The Ministry is still pending to clear other possibilities and is considering several "hypotheses". One of them pointed to the "self-consumption" hens that the owners of the cheese factory or their relatives have near the facilities.
This hypothesis considers the possibility that salmonella is in these animals and that one of the people who handles the cheeses was in contact with it. To corroborate or deny this theory, the General Directorate of Livestock has already taken samples from the feces of the hens and is now awaiting the results of the analysis.
