A Shigella outbreak at the Mariscos San Juan restaurant in California has sickened at least 80 people. Dozens have been hospitalized. The Santa Clara County Public Health Department has received reports of illness since associated with food served at the San Jose restaurant located at 205 N. 4th Street since Saturday October 17th. Customers who ate at the restaurant became ill with fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Many of them have been hospitalized; 12 were admitted to intensive care. So far, health officials have confirmed 15 cases of shigellosis, the infection that results from eating food contaminated with Shigella bacteria. Because the investigation is ongoing, lab results from additional cases are expected to arrive daily. Health officials closed the restaurant on … [Read more...]
Possible Shigella Outbreak at Kansas City MO School Sickens Children
The Kansas City Missouri Health Department is issuing an alert about the number of reported Shigella cases in that area. This illness is an infectious diarrheal disease caused by the Shigella bacteria. There are usually only about 10 cases of Shigella every year in that city, but since January 1, 2015, there have been more than 190 cases reported to public health officials. That is up from 143 cases reported in late September. And about 60 students at Faxon Elementary School have become ill and may have the illness. The symptoms the children are experiencing are similar to Shigella poisoning. There are actually three different strains in this particular outbreak, making the illness difficult to treat. Shigella bacteria are found in the feces of humans and other primates. The illness, … [Read more...]
Shigella Outbreak in Columbia/Boone County, Missouri
The Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services has reported a Shigella outbreak. At least 25 people have been sickened in the past two weeks; there are ordinarily six cases a year. Most of the cases are children who are in day care. Shigella is a bacteria found in human feces. People often get sick when they drink water contaminated with the bacteria. Symptoms of this illness include diarrhea, which may be bloody, abdominal pain, vomiting, and fever. Most people get sick about two to three days after exposure. The illnesses are very similar to other gastrointestinal illnesses, which can make diagnosis difficult. Shigellosis can cause dehydration, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), reactive arthritis, and other serious complications. Anti-diarrhea agents … [Read more...]
Shigella Outbreak at True Food Kitchen in Newport, CA
The restaurant True Food Kitchen at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, California has been closed after a suspected Shigella outbreak. Orange County officials closed the restaurant on August 28, 2014 for an investigation. At least six people have reported symptoms of shigellosis, the illness caused by that bacteria. Officials say that none of the patients ate the same food, possibly meaning that the bacteria was spread by person-to-person contact, according to a media report. Shigella bacteria are passed through the oral-fecal route, meaning that someone ingests feces of someone else with a Shigella infection. Those sickened all ate at the restaurant on August 21, 23, 24, and 25, 2014. The restaurant reopened late last week after cleaning and sanitizing the facility and using … [Read more...]
Increase in Shigella Cases in Iowa
According to the Siouxland District Health Department in Iowa, there has been a "significant increase in the number of reported cases of Shigella" in the Sioux City area. Shigella is a bacterium that causes an infection called shigellosis. Symptoms include diarrhea, which may be painful and bloody with mucous, fever, and stomach cramps that usually begin 24 to 48 hours after infection. The disease is very contagious and public health officials are concerned about implications of this outbreak for daycare centers, schools, and food workers. In the last year, there have been 105 probable or confirmed Shigella cases, compared to none for all of 2012 and up from 98 two weeks ago. Sixty percent of those infected are under the age of 10. Shigella is spread in the feces of an infected … [Read more...]
Shigella Outbreak in Rhode Island Linked to Spring Lake Beach
The Rhode Island Department of Health has reported that 92 people have been sickened with Shigella Sonnei after swimming at Spring Lake Beach on July 4, 2013. Nineteen of those people have tested positive for the bacteria, and 16 people have been hospitalized. About 80% of the ill persons are children under the age of 18. Dr. Michael Fine, Director of Health said, "anyone who recently swam at Spring Lake and is experiencing diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, or vomiting should see his or her doctor." Most people who become ill with Shigella develop fever, stomach cramps, and diarrhea, which can be severe and bloody, within one to three days of exposure. If you have been sick with diarrhea, stay home and away from school, day care, camp, work, and community activities so you don't pass … [Read more...]
