A Shigella outbreak has been declared in Amador County, California according to news reports. That county is located in the eastern part of Northern California and includes the cities of Jackson, Pine Grove, and Ione. Shigellosis is caused by the Shigella bacteria. Symptoms of this infection include fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea that may be bloody. Some people can develop toxemia as a complication of this infection. Symptoms usually begin one to four days after exposure to the contagious bacteria. Dehydration is a serious complication of this infection. Some people may be carriers of the bacteria and not develop any symptoms at all. If you have been experiencing these symptoms, see your doctor. You may be part of this Shigella outbreak. Shigella … [Read more...]
Shigella, Vibrio, E. coli Outbreak Linked to Raw Oysters Ends With 16 Sick
The Shigella, Vibrio, and E. coli outbreak that is linked to raw oysters harvested from Estero El Cardon estuary in Baja California Sur, Mexico, has ended after sickening 16 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Two people were hospitalized because they were so sick. The case count by state is: Alaska (1), California (12), Illinois (1), New Hampshire (1), and Nevada (1). Illness onset dates ranged from December 16, 2018 through April 17, 2019. The patient age range was from 26 to 80 years. State public health officials found more illnesses among people who also ate raw oysters from the same harvest area. The FDA investigated a subset of the illnesses investigated by the CDC. Those five patients were sickened with Shigella … [Read more...]
Shigella Outbreak at Wedding in Oregon Linked to Asparagus
According to data presented at the CDC's Annual Epidemic Intelligence Service Conference, contaminated asparagus was the likely source of a Shigella outbreak at a Yarnhill County wedding in Oregon in 2018. One hundred twelve people were sickened; 10 people were hospitalized. The Oregon Health Authority first received reports of gastroenteritis at a wedding in august 2018. Shigella flexneri type 3a was identified in stool samples taken from patients. That particular pathogen accounts for less than 3% of the Shigella flexneri isolates in the United States. Researchers asked the wedding attendees to fill out surveys to try to find the cause of the outbreak. Presumptive cases were people who had diarrhea lasting 5 days or less. Confirmed cases were patents who had Shigella flexneri … [Read more...]
FDA Investigating Raw Oyster Shigella Outbreak That Sickened Five
The FDA is investigating a subset of the Shigella, Vibrio, E. coli, and Campylobacter outbreak that is linked to raw oysters harvested from Estero El Cardon in Baja California Sur, Mexico. That agency is looking at the five people sickened with Shigella infections. Patients sickened in this raw oyster Shigella outbreak got ill in early 2019. The outbreak notice states that restaurants that sell raw oysters in California, Nevada, New York, and Arizona are part of the investigation. The oysters were sold to wholesale distributors with direct sales to restaurants and were not sold to consumers through grocery retail stores. Consumers should not purchase oysters marketed as being harvested from Estero El Cardon, in Baja California Sur, Mexico from restaurants. If you are not sure … [Read more...]
Shigella Outbreak in Yamhill County, OR at a Wedding
Oregon Health Authority has released information about a Shigella outbreak that happened in August 2018 at a wedding in Yamhill County. One hundred seven people were allegedly sickened; 23 of those people had laboratory confirmed cases of shigellosis. The wedding and reception took place on August 11, 2018. Over the next two days, wedding guests started reporting they were sick with vomiting and/or diarrhea fatigue, abdominal cramps, shaking chills, nausea, muscle aches, and bloody stools. Both Oregon Health Authority and Yamhill County Health and Human Services received reports of illness. The Multnomah County Health Department and the Oregon Department of Agriculture were informed about this outbreak. Fecal samples from patients were cultured. On August 20, 2018, Shigella … [Read more...]
Shigella Outbreak Associated with Wake Robin Retirement Community in Vermont
A Shigella outbreak at the Wake Robin retirement community in Shelburne, Vermont is being investigated by the Vermont Department of Health. The notice from that department states that more than 50 people are sick, but news reports state that the patient case count is now at 67. Shigellosis is a bacterial infection that is usually contracted through eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. People can also contract this infection by touching contaminated surfaces or through sexual contact. The symptoms include diarrhea that is usually watery or may be bloody, fever, and stomach cramps. These symptoms usually begin one to seven days after infection. People can be sick for up to four weeks. Shigella bacteria are shed in an ill persons' stool while they are ill and up … [Read more...]
Shigella Outbreak Associated with Eric Gorbman Catering in Seattle, Washington
A Shigella outbreak in Seattle, Washington is associated with Eric Gorbman Catering. At least 17 people are sick in this outbreak, which occurred at private Bar Mitzvah parties catered by that facility at Temple Beth Am and Temple Beth Shalom in Seattle. One person has been hospitalized. And one of the ill persons has a lab-confirmed Shigella infection. At least two catering employees have reported illnesses, but they ldid not report being ill while they were working those events. Public Health - Seattle & King County say that it is likely that they were exposed at the event rather than being the source of this outbreak. More food items were brought potluck style by attendees. If you or someone in your family attended an event at either temple on Saturday, March 3, 2018 and … [Read more...]
Shigella Outbreak in Nelson and Hardin Counties, KY
A Shigella outbreak in Nelson and Hardin Counties, Kentucky, has been confirmed by Donny Gill, Harm Reduction Manager at the Lincoln Trail District Health Department. Just over 50 cases have been reported to the health department. Most of those sickened are children. The source "has been determined to be a Nelson county daycare center," according to Mr. Gill. That daycare has not been named. Mirna Chamorro, Public Information Officer at the Florida Department of Health, Seminole County, also confirmed the outbreak. She said that letters were sent to parents to provide general information on Shigella and to let parents know that if their children have symptoms, keep them at home until 48 hours after symptoms have passed. Mr. Gill told WDRB.com that people most at risk for this … [Read more...]
Shigella Outbreak Causes Voluntary Closure of Souplantation in Camarillo, CA
An increase in Shigella infections in Ventura County, California has led to the voluntary, temporary closure of the Souplantation restaurant in Camarillo. Officials were notified on Thursday, June 22, 2017 about an unusual number of cases in the county. Ventura County Public Health officials said that eight people have been diagnosed with the illness. Seven of those patients ate at the Souplantation restaurant before they got sick. The eighth patient was a "household contact" of one of the seven sickened. Shigella is a highly contagious bacteria that causes about half a million illnesses in the United States every year. Symptoms include diarrhea that can be bloody, fever, and abdominal pain and cramps. Most people recover without a doctor's care in about a week, but some do … [Read more...]
CDC Joins Shigella Outbreak Investigation in Michigan
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has joined the investigation of the 2016 Shigella outbreak in Michigan that has sickened 177 people. Those cases are in two counties: Saginaw and Genesee, which is where Flint is located. At least 27 people have been hospitalized in this particular outbreak because their illnesses were so severe. Officials say that there were fewer new shigellosis cases in September, and the cases that were reported in October are being analyzed. The CDC is working with state and local officials, partner organizations, and community residents to try to find the source of this outbreak. The illnesses in this outbreak were reported to public health officials between March 1 and October 26, 2016. While there are typically about 300 to 400 cases of … [Read more...]
