San Diego County has genetically linked a salmonella outbreak that sickened at least one Del Mar resident to eggs from a Ramona poultry farm.

The county announced Friday, Sept. 4 that FDA testing found Salmonella Enteritidis in two of seven hen houses at Happy Hens poultry farm. Genetic testing matched the bacteria to strains recovered from ill patients across the region.

The outbreak has grown to 23 cases and seven hospitalizations. Cases have been identified in Del Mar, La Mesa, Ramona, Jamul and Riverside County.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) shared the FDA results with the farm's owners and recommended a voluntary egg recall. As of Friday, Sept. 4, the farm had not issued one, the county said.

Happy Hens co-owner Chloe Nevarez disputed that account. She told Times of San Diego on Saturday, Sept. 5, that officials asked for the farm's thoughts on a possible recall during a phone call but never formally requested one. "No one has asked us to issue a recall," Nevarez said.

Nevarez said the farm had already stopped selling eggs from the two affected hen houses. Happy Hens announced on its Instagram account Monday, Aug. 31, that all product from the affected sites was being held from sale and that roughly 10,000 hens might need to be depopulated if further testing confirms contamination.

No agency has published a list of the grocery stores, farmers markets or restaurants that received Happy Hens eggs. The farm's own website describes sales through its Ramona farm store and at grocery and specialty stores in San Diego, Orange and Los Angeles counties. Bill Marler, an attorney whose firm represents plaintiffs suing the farm, wrote on his blog Friday, Sept. 4, that a family with Happy Hens eggs in the refrigerator "has nothing to check that carton against."

Test results on eggs distributed by the farm were still pending as of Sept. 4. The county said its Department of Environmental Health and Quality has contacted retail food facilities to ensure Happy Hens eggs tied to the outbreak are not used or sold until confirmed safe.

The county said the outbreak is not related to a separate multistate salmonella outbreak in the Midwest that sickened 134 people and led to a recall.

The outbreak was first reported publicly July 28, when the county linked illnesses to raw-egg mayonnaise made and sold at Ramona Family Naturals Market.

County health officials advise residents to cook eggs until both the yolk and white are firm, discard cracked or dirty eggs without washing them, wash hands and surfaces after handling raw eggs and refrigerate eggs at 45°F or below. Residents who are ill or have recovered can report symptoms to the county's Department of Environmental Health and Quality at (858) 505-6814 or [email protected].