SAN DIEGO -- An outbreak of salmonella caused an Escondido restaurant to temporarily shut its doors Tuesday, 10News reported.

The Elias restaurant voluntarily closed itself down, the county Department of Environmental Health reported Wednesday.

Several customers became ill after eating at the restaurant between Oct. 14 and Oct. 23. At least 12 confirmed cases have been reported to the county's Community Epidemiology department.

"Community Epidemiology has been conducting extensive testing and interviewing to determine a possible source of the outbreak," said county Public Health Officer Nancy Bowen.

"We have been taking reports from physicians about cases and interviewing people who became ill to determine if they ate at the restaurant," Bowen said.

The restaurant will reopen after the Department of Environmental Health approves new food handling procedures submitted by the restaurant and a food handler trainer works with staff.

The facility must also be cleaned and sanitized before reopening.

Salmonella is not typically fatal. Symptoms include fever, abdominal cramps and diarrhea beginning 12 to 72 hours after consuming contaminated food.

The symptoms usually last four to seven days and most people can recover without antibiotics.