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...]
Drug Resistant Shigella Outbreak Strikes 32 States
An outbreak of drug-resistant shigellosis originating with travel outside the U.S. then spreading here sickened 157 people in 32 states and Puerto Rico between May 2014 and February 2015, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A related outbreak in San Francisco sickened another 86 people. At least 19 people were hospitalized. Tests performed by the CDC's National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) laboratory determined Shigella strains from this cluster of illnesses were resistant to ciprofloxacin, the antibiotic recommended for treatment of shigellosis, the illness caused by the Shigella bacteria. In the U.S., about 500,000 cases of shigellosis are reported each year. This disease is spread via the fecal-oral route meaning … [Read more...]
Shigella at Zov’s in Irvine Prompts Brief Closure
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 … [Read more...]
Shigella at Zov’s in Irvine Prompts Brief Closure
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 … [Read more...]
Shigella Sickens 158 at Salsarita’s in Walmart Home Office Food Court
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 … [Read more...]
