Canberra law firms have confirmed up to 26 people are now considering legal action in relation to a recent salmonella outbreak as one of the cafes allegedly affected by the infection reopened on Monday to huge community support after a forced closure by ACT Health.
Meanwhile, Lauren Kish, who has multiple-sclerosis, was being released from Calvary Hospital on Tuesday, spending nine days being treated for salmonella poisoning after eating at Ricardo's. Ms Kish said the poisoning bout had exacerbated her existing condition.
Slater and Gordon senior associate Liam Casey said his firm has had 14 claim inquiries in relation to the salmonella outbreak, while Maliganis Edwards Johnson partner Deborah Rolfe confirmed 12 claim inquires.
Reaction to Ricardo's reopening from locals, shop owners and social media was overwhelmingly positive as many promised to return despite the owner's admission salmonella had been found on a dish cloth and tea towel in the cafe.
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Cherie Jackson, a local shop employee, said on Tuesday she'd been surprised by the closure but was glad to see Ricardo's back.
"I had a big lunch there yesterday because I wanted to show support," Ms Jackson said.
Emily Crabb, a regular at Ricardo's, said what had happened was disappointing but it hadn't deterred her at all.
"I think it's probably the cleanest cafe in Canberra right now," Ms Crabb said.
ACT Health confirmed last week two cafes had been closed, one in Belconnen and one in Gungahlin, with Ricardo's Cafe and Central Cafe, which remains closed, both photographed last week with forced closure notices on their doors.
ACT Health said on Tuesday the reopening of the Gungahlin venue was dependent on whether the eatery would ask for a reinspection, having inspected the venue on February 10 and forcing it to close the same day.
Ms Kish and David MacDonald spoke side by side from their hospital room, where Mr MacDonald was set to remain.
David MacDonald went to Ricardo's on Friday, February 10, four days before the cafe was shut, buying two cronuts - later identified as one of the problem foods.
It was a rare treat for him and his wife, Ms Kish, who he cares for after she was diagnosed with multiple-sclerosis in 1999.
Ms Kish started feeling ill on the Saturday with high temperatures and her multiple-sclerosis leaving her unable to move. As her condition worsened on the Sunday, Mr MacDonald also started feeling ill.
"When [Ms Kish is] good she gets around on two sticks, I could not get her legs to work," Mr MacDonald said.
"Every time I went to sit her up just slightly she was throwing up."
He called an ambulance in the early hours of February 12 and the pair were admitted at Calvary Hospital where Ms Kish has remained until February 21 with tests later confirming she had salmonella poisoning.
Several people who have contacted Fairfax Media said they ate at Ricardo's on January 30.
ACT Health was first notified of salmonella cases at a Belconnen venue on February 3 and asked the venue to remove the food identified as the source of the infections.
After cases related to the venue continued to be reported another inspection confirmed salmonella on the premises and the venue was forced to close on February 14.
ACT Health said it asked the Belconnen venue to remove problematic food items.
Ms Kish said despite all her years with mulitple-sclerosis, her treatments, hospital visits and a 2012 stem cell transplant, this was the worst she had felt.
"It's lucky that it happened to us, it could have killed someone in a more fragile state," she said.
Ricardo's Cafe owner Ricardo De Marco declined to comment when approached.