A Shigella outbreak at Salsarita’s in the Bentonville, Ark. Walmart home office food court has sickened 158, health authorities say. So far, 19 cases of shigellosis have been confirmed and another 139 are probable.
The restaurant, operated by Eurest, was temporarily closed for food safety violations including employees not washing their hands, employees touching food with their bare hands and juices from raw chicken dripping onto bottled drinks in the refrigerator. Another inspection is scheduled this week.
Shigella bacteria is found in fecal matter. Food related Shigella outbreaks are often caused by food workers who contaminate food by touching it or food preparation surfaces after using the bathroom and not washing hands or not washing them properly. When ingested, Shigella bacteria cause an infection called shigellosis. Symptoms of shigellosis, which include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, develop one or two days after exposure and last up to a week. A high fever in children under two may lead to seizures.
Health department officials say they continue to receive reports of new cases. The investigation of the outbreak is ongoing.
