A cluster of four Shigella illnesses prompted a brief closure of Zov’s restaurant in Irvine Wednesday. Those sickened ate at Zov’s on Portola between September 16-22.
During the closure, the staff of Zov’s discarded all its fresh produce and ready-to-eat foods and sanitized the restaurant. The staff, which cannot return to work until they are cleared by the health department, was temporarily replaced with employees from other Zov’s locations in Orange County.
The staff was also given training in proper hand washing as Shigella infections are transmitted when food contaminated with microscopic amounts of feces from an infected person is eaten. Symptoms of a Shigella infection include diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever lasting five to seven days. Anyone who ate at the restaurant and experienced these symptoms should see a doctor and mention possible exposure.
Last month, True Food Kitchen in Newport Beach, California was linked to a Shigella outbreak that sickened six people.
