However, health officials say not everyone who ate there got sick. At last report, they have 51 confirmed salmonella cases, and no specific source of contamination.
A small army of state and local health officials questioned the hotel's staff and management Friday.
Meanwhile, some of those got sick last week, and only now starting to feel better.
"Mainly body aches and stomach cramps were just horrible," said salmonella victim Greg Riggins.
Riggins says he doesn't hold any ill will towards the Holiday Inn Bordeaux hotel, but the government services worker from Alabama says last weekend he was about as sick as he's ever been.
"I tried to ride it out Sunday, and it didn't get any better," said Riggins. "So Monday, I went to the hospital. They admitted me, gave me fluids, ran some tests then discharged me later on in the afternoon."
"We knew that on Sunday they had a Mother's Day lunch and they had 700 come through," said Health Director Buck Wilson. "So we estimate that another 300 to 400 people ate at the All-American Sports Bar of the Cafe Bordeaux."
Wilson says they haven't determined a source of the salmonella bacteria. Wilson confirmed that some employees had a pot luck dinner at the hotel on May 3, but he says inspectors haven't pinpointed any food brought in as a source of contamination.
They do say a faulty kitchen dishwasher was not adequately sanitizing plates and glassware. The health director says the hotel management and workers are co-operating.
The health department is asking anyone who developed symptoms after eating at the Holiday Inn Bordeaux to call them at (910) 433-3638. For additional information, a salmonella hotline has been set up at (910) 433-3824.
To stop the further spread of the illness, the health department advises that hand washing is the best control measure.
The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment. However, in some people, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized, or to be treated with antibiotics.
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