Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Luxury Hotel’s High Tea Event

A luxury hotel in Melbourne, Australia has been linked to a salmonella outbreak.

With 17 confirmed cases so far of salmonella poisoning, the Langham Hotel in Melbourne, Australia, has quickly become the center of controversy. Nearly half the guests — about 60 total — from the hotel’s high tea events on July 11 and 12 fell ill afterward attending. Several of the attendees had to be hospitalized, and one woman reportedly fell so ill that doctors had to deliver her baby five weeks early.

The hotel’s Tiffin High Tea is suspected to be the culprit, although tests are still pending on the sandwiches, scones and desserts. Thankfully no one outside of the high-end hotel has fallen ill, so the outbreak is contained and completed.

“The hotel is fully cooperating to determine the origin of this illness and is in contact with guests directly,” said Ben Sington, Langham’s managing director. He also noted that he is unable to discuss specific cases, as guests’ privacy is of the utmost importance.

“We respect their privacy and will not enter into discussions about their personal circumstances,” Sington told the Herald Sun. “However, we are monitoring this situation and the medical conditions of all affected guests very closely.”

This is not the first time the Langham has run into health department issues. Last year, the kitchen failed several food safety inspections, including one that showed cockroaches in the kitchen about a year prior to this incident.

[Photo: Langham Hotels]