A Yakima County Shigella outbreak has sickened at least 72 people in Washington state, according to the Yakima Health District. Officials do not know how people contracted this infection, or how it is being spread. They also do not know if contact with surfaces, or if eating food prepared by someone with a Shigella infection are explanations for this outbreak. The 72 patients have been diagnosed in that county from January 1, 2023, through October 16, 2023. Last year, only 10 cases were diagnosed in the same time period. Public health officials are asking the community to start using preventative measures to reduce the spread of this pathogen as the holiday season approaches. Shigella is very contagious and spreads easily through person to person contact. You can also contract … [Read more...]
Shigella Outbreak at Hotel in Los Angeles, California Sickens Six
A Shigella outbreak at an unnamed hotel in downtown Los Angeles, California has sickened art least six people, according to the Alameda County Health Department. The hotel was the site of a union delegate conference and was held from August 21 to August 24, 2023. The only conference we could find that was scheduled at that time was the Coalition of Kaiser Permanence Union Delegate Conference at the Westin Bonaventure Los Angeles at 404 South Figueroa Street. More than 300 people attended that conference. As of August 31, 2023, the California Department of Public Health is reporting six shigellosis cases from local California local health jurisdictions among event attendees. At least three out of the six cases were PCR+ for Shigella. Culture and additional sub typing tests are … [Read more...]
Shigellosis Outbreak in Lavaca County, Texas Announced
A shigellosis outbreak in Lavaca County, Texas has been announced by the Texas Department of State Health Services. Officials are investigating this outbreak. No source of the pathogen has been declared and there is no mention of how many people are sick or if anyone has been hospitalized. There is also no patient age range mentioned. Officials are interviewing patients and are collecting food samples from a location where "multiple individuals" ate before they got sick. The last Shigella outbreak in the United States was linked to Tamarind Tree in Seattle, Washington earlier this year. At least 32 people were sickened in that outbreak. This bacteria causes about a half million illnesses in the United States every year. This infection is highly contagious and is spread through … [Read more...]
Now 32 Sick in Tamarind Tree Shigella Outbreak in Seattle
There are now 32 people sick in the Tamarind Tree Shigella outbreak in Seattle, Washington, according to King County Public Health. The case count has more than doubled, from 17 patients, since the last update on February 1, 2023. The restaurant is located at 1036 South Jackson Street A in Seattle. The patients ate at the restaurant on January 14, 15, 16, and 17 in 2023. Symptoms experienced include diarrhea, cramps, nausea, fever, chills, and vomiting. Symptoms starting manifesting from January 17 through the 20th in 2023. Ten of the 32 patients have tested positive for Shigella. Six cases have confirmatory testing indicating they were sickened with Shigella sonnei, a species of this pathogen. Symptoms among those who have not been tested are suggestive of a Shigella … [Read more...]
Tamarind Tree Shigella Outbreak in Seattle, WA Sickens 17
A Tamarind Tree Shigella outbreak in Seattle, Washington has sickened at least 17 people, according to King County Public Health. This outbreak was first reported in late January, 2023, when the pathogen that caused the illnesses was unknown. The restaurant is located at 1036 South Jackson Street A in Seattle. The 17 patients were part of seven separate meal parties that ate at that restaurant on these dates: January 15, 16, and 17, 2023. No ill employees have been identified. Five of the 17 people who are sick have tested positive for Shigella. Three of those five patients have had confirmatory testing indicating they are infected with Shigella sonnei, one strain of this pathogen. Symptoms among those who were not tested are suggestive of a Shigella infection. The patients are … [Read more...]
Kansas Shigella Outbreak at Splash Pad Sickened 21 in June 2021
A Kansas shigella outbreak at a splash pad in June 2021 sickened at least 21 people, according to the Center For Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) for the week of August 5, 2022. The splash pad was located in a Kansas wildlife park. There were actually two outbreaks: One involving shigella, and the other was a norovirus outbreak. Getting splash pad water in the mouth was associated with the illnesses. The shigella outbreak was linked to visits on June 11, 2021, and the norovirus outbreak was linked to visits on June 18, 2021. The contributing factors were inadequate disinfection, equipment, and training. The park has animal exhibits and a splash pad. In June 2021, Kansas state and county public health officials identified three cases of … [Read more...]
Shigella Outbreak in Eureka, California Sickens Five, 11 Suspected
A Shigella outbreak in Eureka, California has sickened at least three people, according to the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services. Three cases are lab confirmed, and two cases are being investigated as of February 2022. In a March 5, 2022 update, there are now five cases and 11 more illnesses being investigated according to news reports. The cases occurred in multiple households and involve school age children, adults, and one person who is experiencing homelessness. The confirmed and suspected cases have been linked to locations on the waterfront area on the U.S. Highway 101 corridor in greater Eureka, according to an update by the health department. The update, which was on a video narrated by public health nurse Daniel Tran, states, "Based on current and … [Read more...]
Shigellosis Outbreak at Small Pharaoh #1 Food Cart in Portland, Oregon
A Shigellosis outbreak at Small Pharaoh #1 Food Cart at SW 5th and Stark in downtown Portland, Oregon has sickened at least four people. Four cases are confirmed, and there are three other presumptive cases with symptoms who have not been tested, according to the Multnomah County Health Department. The food cart was closed on Tuesday, August 11, 2020 after public health officials linked the cart to the illnesses. This is the first food cart closure in Multnomah county in many years for food concerns. Food carts are inspected, regulated, and scored just like brick and mortar restaurants in that county. Shigellosis is caused by the shigella bacteria that is spread through food, water, or person to person. The bacteria is transmitted through the fecal-oral route. Symptoms usually … [Read more...]
Texas Shigellosis Outbreak in Stockton and Pecos County Sickens 27
A Texas Shigellosis outbreak in Stockton and Pecos County has sickened at least 27 people, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. This bacteria causes a diarrheal illness, and is spread through consuming contaminated food and water, as well as person-to-person and through contact with contaminated water. Late last month Brazoria County announced that there is a shigellosis outbreak in that county in Texas. The first illness onset date was in October. Three patients have been hospitalized because they are so sick. No single source of the Shigella bacteria has been identified by government officials at this time. Symptoms of shigellosis can also include fever, vomiting, nausea, and stomach cramps. Some people may feel the need to evacuate their bowels even when … [Read more...]
Brazoria County Shigella Outbreak Sickens Unknown Number in Texas
There is a Brazoria County Shigella outbreak in Texas, according to the Brazoria County Health Department. Shigella is a bacteria found in feces that causes illness similar to other pathogens. The release states that there is "an increased number of Shigella cases in the community over the past two months; particularly in children." Symptoms of Shigellosis include abdominal pains and cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, and diarrhea that contains mucus or blood. People contract this infection via the fecal-oral route. That means a person touches contaminated objects then touches the mouth, consuming contaminated food or water, or by contaminated objects touching the mouth. This illness is also spread person-to-person. The severity of the illness can vary. Some people may only have a … [Read more...]
