Madison Restaurant is closed after guests get sick

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – A Mexican restaurant in Madison is closed while public health officials investigate a possible outbreak of foodborne illness.

Public Health's director of environmental health, Madison and Dane County, told the Wisconsin State Journal that nearly 25 people became ill after eating at La Hacienda. Doug Voegeli says the 23-year-old restaurant has been closed since Thursday night.

What led to the epidemic is still under study. The restaurant owner did not respond to requests for comments from the newspaper.

According to the Federal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, researchers have identified more than 250 foodborne illnesses, also known as food poisoning. The CDC estimates that 48 million people become sick each year from a food-borne illness, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die.