INDIANAPOLIS -- Health officials said they're investigating the cases of 19 people who said they became ill after eating at an Olive Garden restaurant in northeastern Indianapolis over the weekend.

The 19 began showing classic symptoms of food-borne illness within 48 hours of dining at the Castleton-area restaurant on Sunday, health officials told 6News' Stacia Matthews.

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Health officials began an investigation Tuesday, inspecting the restaurant and reviewing its food-handling procedures. On Wednesday, they didn't yet know what caused they illnesses, but they said they learned some Olive Garden employees came to work sick.

"We did have some indication that a couple of employees over the last couple of weeks were ill, and one reasonably recently had experienced flu-like symptoms," the Marion County Health Department's Ed Culver said.

Culver said the restaurant has taken follow-up measures and added that it would be "fair to say that it is safe to eat there now."

An Olive Garden representative told 6News: "We're pleased investigators found that there's not a danger in dining at the restaurant. We are working closely with the health department in this investigation and assisting any guests who have called."

Because some of the 19 live in Hamilton County, that county's health department also is involved in the investigation, Matthews reported.

One of the ill, Molly Conner, 9, stayed home from school on Tuesday and Wednesday after becoming sick to her stomach early Tuesday.

Molly attended her cousin's birthday party dinner at the restaurant on Sunday. Six people attending the party became sick.

"My stomach hurt," Molly told 6News. "I had a headache. My knees were shaky. I threw up."

Investigators having been recording what the 19 ate before the illnesses and collecting stool samples for analysis. They also have been collecting Olive Garden food from those who took leftovers home.

Results of testing could take two weeks, Matthews reported.