HOUSTON -- A Houston family claimed Friday that tainted tomatoes and salmonella killed their loved one, KPRC Local 2 reported.

The family of Raul Rivera, 67, gathered at a southside funeral home to say their final farewells. They said they believe Rivera is the first fatality of the recent outbreak of salmonella.

The Houston Health department confirmed Barbara Rivera's husband contracted salmonella.

But health officials said he actually died of from a pre-existing condition. Rivera was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2007.

After almost a year of radiation and chemotherapy, the family had been told there was nothing more doctors could do.

But Barbara Rivera insisted that he was still healthy on May 21 when the family shared plate of fajitas at a local restaurant. Two days later, Rivera could not get out of bed.

"He never was that sick -- even through the whole chemo treatment -- never got nausea, never had any symptoms other than a little weakness," Barbara Rivera said.

Four other family members also became violently ill after eating some pico de gallo that came with the fajitas.

"I've never been that sick before and at the time, we thought it was the flu virus. That was last thing we thought about was salmonella," said Corey Lazar, Rivera's grandson.

The others recovered, but Raul Rivera never improved. He died at St. Luke's Hospital on Wednesday.

Barbara Rivera admitted that her husband's immune system was weak from the cancer and chemotherapy, but she is convinced salmonella killed him.

"We're concerned people are not taking this seriously enough. They're still serving tomatoes in restaurants and somebody needs to put a stop to it," she said.

The health department is investigating.

The consumption of raw Roma and large, red round tomatoes has been implicated as the likely source of salmonella infections, officials said.

Consumers are advised to:

cook tomatoes to 145 degrees for at least 15 seconds to kill salmonella
avoid buying bruised or damaged tomatoes
throw away tomatoes that appear to be spoiled
thoroughly wash all tomatoes under running water
refrigerate cut, peeled or cooked tomatoes within two hours or throw them away
separate tomatoes that will be eaten raw from any raw meat, poultry, seafood or vegetables
wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils and countertops with hot water and soap in between handling of different foods
wash hands thoroughly

Symptoms of salmonella infection include:

headache
stomach pain
diarrhea
nausea
vomiting

Illness from salmonella normally lasts four to seven days and most people generally recover without treatment. People with symptoms are advised to drink plenty of water, get extra rest and visit a doctor as soon as possible. When severe infection occurs, salmonella may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other body sites and can cause death.

More Information:

CDC: Salmonella Saintpaul Outbreak Investigation
CDC: Salmonella Frequently Asked Questions
CDC: Map of States Reporting Salmonella Saintpaul
Information About New Mexico Salmonella Cases
FDA: Safe Handling of Raw Produce, Fresh-Squeezed Juices