February 2006

Hand Washing Recommended
MCMINNVILLE, Ore. — Yamhill County Public Health officials are investigating a large number of shigellosis cases.
Authorities say initial results show that the majority of people who have become ill ate at Tommys Restaurant in McMinnville between Jan. 23 and 27.
Officials say anyone who ate at Tommys in that time frame

February 4, 2006
The Bellingham Herald
David Rasbach
An outbreak of shigellosis, an infectious disease that usually causes diarrhea and a fever and is transmitted through contaminated food or water, has forced the postponement of today’s Class 2A District Wrestling Tournament.
The tournament, which will still be held at Blaine High School, will be made up Wednesday, with weigh-ins scheduled for 9 a.m. and action beginning at 11 a.m.
“We want to err on the side of caution,” Blaine athletic director Gary Claussen said in a phone interview. “We want to be as safe as we can by postponing it a few days.”Continue Reading Wrestling tournament canceled due to outbreak

February 4, 2006
Statesman Journal
Yamhill County public-health officials said they have received a high number of reported cases of shigellosis, a disease typically caused by people consuming contaminated food or water.
An investigation indicates that the majority of cases are people who ate at Tommy’s Restaurant in McMinnville from Jan. 23 to Jan. 27.
Anyone who ate there and has experienced severe diarrhea with a fever should seek medical care promptly, said Matt Jaqua, the Yamhill County environmental-health supervisor.Continue Reading Officials investigate cases of shigellosis

SEATTLE, WA (February 3, 2006) – The Associated Press reported today that a Shigella outbreak in Yamhill County likely originated from food served at Tommyís Restaurant in McMinnville between January 23 and January 27. Several people have become ill with Shigellosis, and health officials are warning residents to use safe food handling practices and proper hygiene to prevent the further spread of illness.
Marler Clark, the Seattle law firm that has represented thousands of victims of foodborne illness, has here provided information about Shigella, its symptoms, risks of infection, and how to prevent secondary cases.
What is Shigella?
Shigella is a bacterium that can cause sudden and severe diarrhea (gastroenteritis) in humans. Shigellosis is the name of the disease that Shigella causes. The illness is also known as “bacillary dysentery.” Shigella bacteria can infect the intestinal tract after the ingestion of relatively few organisms. This is why shigellosis is the most communicable of the bacterial-induced diarrheas.
The source of Shigella bacteria is the excrement (feces) of an infected individual that is ultimately ingested by another person.Continue Reading Yamhill County outbreak cause for concern

McMINNVILLE, Ore. (AP) — Health officials in Yamhill County are reporting an outbreak of the bacterial disease shigellosis, often known as shigella.
They say early indications are that most victims ate at Tommy’s Restaurant in McMinnville between January 23rd and January 27th.
Symptoms can include severe diarrhea, vomiting, fever and stomach cramps.
Environmental Health supervisor Matt Jaqua said officials are worried about secondary cases, where people become infected after being exposed to people who are ill.Continue Reading Outbreak Of Shigella In McMinnville