The Knoxnews Web site posted a recent article on the ten largest foodborne illness outbreaks reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2000 to 2004. Among the outbreaks were two Shigella outbreaks:

An outbreak of the Shigella sonnei bacteria, usually spread through human feces, infected 964 people in seven West Texas counties during a four-month period in 2003. More than 70 percent of the victims were children under 12. The outbreak began as a food-borne illness, but also spread through person-to-person contact.

An 886-person outbreak of the Shigella flexneri bacteria began at the Shish Kabob Snack Bar in Port Washington, N.Y., and spread to four other restaurants in May 2001. Investigators concluded that an infected worker at a produce-distribution plant had contaminated a shipment of bruised tomatoes.”

Also according to the article, a total of 7,840 adults and children got sick or died after contracting a foodborne illness. You can read about more foodborne illness outbreaks that were rported at the Knox News site here.