San Diego: Salmonella outbreak linked to Aladdin Mediterranean Cafe
San Diego County health officials report investigating an outbreak of salmonella linked to dining at Aladdin Mediterranean Café in the Clairemont area of San Diego.
To date, 14 confirmed and probable cases associated with this outbreak ranging between 18 and 79 years of age. Five people have been hospitalized.
People who reported getting sick ate food from Aladdin Mediterranean Cafe between April 25 and April 26, 2025.
People who dined at Aladdin Mediterranean Café in the Clairemont area April 25 –26, 2025, and feel ill with any of the symptoms listed below should consider contacting a healthcare provider as needed.
The investigation is ongoing. No source of the outbreak has been determined, however once the investigation is complete and it is determined there is no ongoing risk, the restaurant will be cleared to resume operation.
Aladdin Mediterranean Café voluntarily closed when notified of the situation to allow health officials to do more testing and interview staff and continues to work closely with the County.
Salmonella are a group of bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal illness and fever called salmonellosis. Salmonella can be spread by food handlers who do not wash their hands and/or the surfaces and tools they use between food preparation steps, and when people eat raw or undercooked foods. Salmonella can also spread from animals to people. People who have direct contact with certain animals, including poultry and reptiles, can spread the bacteria from the animals to food if they do not practice proper hand washing hygiene before handling food. Pets can also spread the bacteria within the home environment if they eat food contaminated with Salmonella.
Most people infected with Salmonella will begin to develop symptoms 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness, salmonellosis, usually lasts four to seven days and most people recover without treatment.
Most people with salmonellosis develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. More severe cases of salmonellosis may include a high fever, aches, headaches, lethargy, a rash, blood in the urine or stool, and in some cases may become fatal. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that approximately 450 persons in the United States die each year from acute salmonellosis.
People who are at higher risk for serious illnesses from salmonella include:
Children younger than 5 years
Adults older than 65 years
Pregnant women
People with weakened immune systems
As of April 28, the County has identified 184 cases of Salmonellosis in 2025 across the region. In 2024, there were 753 cases identified, compared with 685 in 2023 and 683 in 2022.