63 fall ill in suspected food poisoning in Yilan

Taipei, March 22 (CNA) Suspected food poisoning at a hot pot restaurant in Yilan had caused 63 people to fall ill as of Friday, with 33 seeking medical attention, the Yilan County Public Health Bureau said Saturday.

The bureau said in a news release that samples from the restaurant have been collected and sent to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for testing.

The bureau said that feces samples from 10 restaurant employees and five customers who fell ill have also been collected and will be tested by the CDC.

The bureau first received a report of the incident on Wednesday, when at least 15 customers at the restaurant reported symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea.

A statement from the bureau on Wednesday said that most customers dined at the restaurant on March 15-16.

The bureau ordered the restaurant to suspend operations on Wednesday so it could carry out inspections. It found two "hygienic faults" and ordered the restaurant to make improvements within a set period.

The bureau said the restaurant has now turned in its proof of improvement report and applied to resume operations.

Further health and safety checks will now take place. Workers will have to attend four hours of lectures on health and safety and pass an exam before operations can restart.