An outbreak of food poisoning in Whangarei is being linked to one food outlet.
Nine out of 11 people who have tested positive for the strain of salmonella infantis have eaten at or bought food at the undisclosed business. The other two cases were possibly picked up through secondary contact. Health officials are not naming the food outlet at this stage.
With cases expected to spread rapidly through secondary contact that number could be the tip of the iceberg, Northland Medical Officer Claire Mills said.
"We had 11 confirmed cases of salmonella infantis which is quite a cluster of a strain not particularly common in Northland, and nine seemed to be linked to one eating premises," Dr Mills said.
Health officials are investigating the eatery and its food supply chain to find a possible source of the bacterial infection but have not been able to find whether it came from a product or was spread by an infected person.