Shigella Blog - Surveillance & analysis on Shigella news & outbreaks

Deb Farris from KAKE News reported on a Shigella outbreak at a local Reno County daycare:

September 26 - Letters are going out to daycare centers and schools all over Reno County about an outbreak of shigellosis. The last time Reno saw this many cases of the illness was nearly 10 years ago. The bacterial infection can be very serious because it causes diarrhea which can lead to dehydration and hospitalization. The outbreak has already sent 3 people to the hospital.

2nd graders at one Hutchinson school are getting a refresher course on hand washing. That school didn't have any cases so far, but teachers want to be prepared. There are a total of 8 cases of shigellosis in Reno County, but health officials are investigating 20 to 30 possible cases. Normally they see an average of 1 to 2 cases a year. Symptoms of shigellosis include bloody or watery diarrhea, fever, nausea or vomiting and last about 3 to 4 days. The illness is easily spread. Health workers say washing your hands is the best way to protect yourself from the easily contagious disease. The Reno County Health Department is not releasing the names of the schools affected by the outbreak. If you have any of the symptoms, call your doctor immediately.

MARLER CLARK PRESS RELEASE

SAN DIEGO, CA (September 13, 2006) – A lawsuit was filed today against Filiberto’s, the Arizona restaurant chain whose restaurant located at 3446 University Avenue in San Diego was traced as the source of a food poisoning outbreak in late August, 2006. The lawsuit was filed in San Diego County Superior Court on behalf of Nicole Lewis, a San Diego resident who ate at the restaurant and subsequently became ill with Shigellosis, an illness caused by ingestion of the Shigella bacterium. Ms. Lewis is represented by Marler Clark, a Seattle law firm that has represented thousands of victims of foodborne illness, and Keeney, Waite & Stevens, a respected San Diego law firm.

On September 1, 2006, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (SDHHS) and the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health announced that they were working together to investigate an apparent Shigella outbreak among customers who had eaten at the University Avenue Filiberto’s. The restaurant was closed on August 31, and according to a news release issued by SDHHS , at least ten people had become ill with apparent Shigella infections after eating at Filiberto’s in late August, three of whom were hospitalized.

Marler Clark commenced Shigella litigation against Gate Gourmet, a catering company that supplied Shigella-contaminated food to several airlines with flights departing from the Honolulu, Hawaii airport. The firm filed a lawsuit on behalf of a man who became ill in September 2004 after consuming a meal on board a return flight from Hawaii. Several hundred illnesses have been reported in over 22 States and at least three foreign countries. Marler Clark filed a second lawsuit on behalf of seven more ill individuals on June 22, 2005.

07.sep.06 The China Post Associated Press

Beijing -- Medical experts say a food poisoning outbreak that left at least 300 Chinese schoolchildren hospitalized was caused by shigella bacteria, a news report said Wednesday. Students and teachers fell ill after eating lunch Friday at the Chongzhou City Experimental Primary School in the southwestern province of Sichuan. Investigators have found shigella bacteria in the food, the official Xinhua News Agency said. The bacteria are spread through undercooked or contaminated food and poor hygiene, and cause diarrhea, fever, vomiting and stomach cramps.

County Health Officials Say 10 People Affected
Jermaine Ong
Web Editor

SAN DIEGO -- An outbreak of a food-borne illness has shut down a local restaurant, according to a press release from the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency.

According to an HHSA release, 10 people have been diagnosed with symptoms of Shigella, a known food-borne illness. The 10 cases have been traced to the Filbertos restaurant on 3446 University Avenue, investigators said.

Investigators said they believe people eating at the restaurant between Aug. 24 and Aug. 28 may have been exposed to Shigella.

San Diego County Department of Health officials closed the restaurant on Aug. 31, and it will remain closed pending further investigation of any violations.

Symptoms of Shigella include fever, watery or bloody diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. According to San Diego County Public Health Officer Nancy Bowen, symptoms usually begin within two days of eating or drinking infected items and usually last five to seven days.

HHSA investigators said although the Shigella outbreak was traced to Filbertos, the exact cause of the outbreak has not yet been determined.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers more information on Shigella on its Web site - www.cdc.gov. Also, see www.about-shigella.com