Dec 15, 10:40 PM EST
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300 Say They Got Ill From Olive Garden*

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- More than 300 people say they became ill, and at
least three have been hospitalized, after eating at an Olive Garden
restaurant last weekend, health officials said Friday.

The restaurant has been closed while health officials and the company
investigate what caused customers to complain of nausea, vomiting, fever
and diarrhea, a company spokesman said.

Steve Coe, a spokesman for the Orlando, Fla.-based chain of Italian
restaurants, said health officials are focusing on an employee who had
flu-like symptoms similar to those patrons complained of.

Six restaurant workers reported Monday that they felt ill, said Marion
County Health Department spokesman John Althardt.

"We're trying to isolate what the cause of the illness might be," he said.

Health officials have found no link to the E. coli outbreak that
sickened dozens of people who ate at Taco Bell restaurants in the
Northeast recently, Althardt said.

The reports have been isolated to the one restaurant, appearing to
indicate the problem is not linked to any products used in the food, Coe
said. Food suppliers typically supply the same products to many restaurants.

"We are taking this extremely seriously," he said. "But at this time
there is no reason for us to believe that there is any connection with
any E. coli outbreaks."

Health officials were collecting leftover food and stool samples from
those stricken to pinpoint the source, Althardt said. Inspectors met
with restaurant managers on Tuesday and found no health code violations.