The Nassau County Department of Health and Mama Sbarro's pizzeria, 265 Broadway in Hicksville, N.Y., said Saturday that a kitchen worker at the restaurant had contracted typhoid fever, putting more than 100 customers who ate at the restaurant on March 14-16 at "low" risk (photo by Newsday).

The department emphasized that Mama Sbarro's had passed two inspections since Friday evening, when the county was informed of the kitchen worker's condition. The restaurant, which did not know the employee had typhoid fever until Saturday, had no major health violations in the last two years and would remain open, authorities said, because it was safe to eat there.

Authorities noted the disease may have been passed to the kitchen worker from relatives visiting from overseas, though they would not say from what country or when the relatives visited.

Typhoid fever is an acute illness associated with fever caused by Salmonella typhi. Medicinenet.com reports that less than 500 cases are reported annually in the United States, mostly in people who recently have traveled to endemic areas.

Like hepatitis A, typhoid fever passes through the bowel and can remain on hands after inadequate handwashing, potentially contaminating foods like salads, or pizza.

Don't eat poop.

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