CHINA GROVE, N.C. – A Rowan County restaurant is the focus of an E. coli outbreak that has made several people sick.

The outbreak has not shut the Captain’s Galley restaurant down. It is a town favorite and late Thursday night a restaurant spokesperson says they're trying to figure out what happened.

The call came from Northeast Medical Center - four suspected cases of E.coli.

The Rowan County Health Department called back and found even more similarly sick people.

"The common denominator for these individuals seems to be the Captain’s Galley Restaurant,” said Leonard Wood, Rowan County Health Director.

The dates in question are May 26 - May 29.

Health officials say there are four confirmed cases, nine suspected cases awaiting lab testing and several other possible cases now under investigation.

The manager said an E. coli outbreak at the restaurant wasn’t true.

We asked again to be clear. The answer this time was it didn’t happen.

No E. coli has been found at the restaurant and no obvious source has been identified. Health officials say just because it's not here now doesn't mean it wasn't on those dates.

"No, it does not rule that out at all,” Wood said.

"They've got a good crowd right now, so I really don't think it will have an effect on it because the food is really, really good,” said customer Iris Wise.

Health officials say future tests could prove them wrong, lead to a different source or even a different restaurant. But for now?

"I can only go on what the evidence is telling me,” Wood said.

This particular strain of E. coli is found in contaminated meat and produce and can also result from poor hygiene. Whether or not the source is the restaurant, someone in the restaurant or a shipment of food to the restaurant has yet to be determined.

If you have any questions about the E. coli outbreak, you can call the Rowan County Health Department at (704) 216-8875.