Authorities believe a cafe on Queensland’s Gold Coast is responsible for a food poisoning outbreak after about 20 people are admitted to hospital.
Patients have been admitted to the Gold Coast University and Robina hospitals over the past five days with what is believed to be salmonella poisoning.
A Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service spokesman said they were trying to establish the source of the outbreak and the hospitals had increased their bed and staffing capacities to cope with the influx of patients.
Gold Coast City Council said it was investigating the issue in coordination with the local health service.
A council spokeswoman said environmental health officers were working with a food licence holder at a suburban cafe to improve food safety practices.
The officers have not yet completed their investigations.
Last month about 250 people reported gastro-intestinal symptoms following a school principals’ conference in Brisbane that was attended by about 1,200 delegates from across the state.
After Queensland Health announced the suspected salmonella outbreak at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, the ABC revealed there had been an outbreak of food poisoning affecting about 10 people who attended a conference at the same venue a week earlier.