A longhorn steakhouse linked to a Shigella outbreak has been allowed to reopen after closing on October 2.
According to the St. Clair County Health Department, the investigation into the restaurant in Fairview Heights, Illinois, continues. As of October 17, there were 26 confirmed patients positive for Shigella infections and another 66 probable patients. Twelve patients were so ill that they had to be hospitalized. The patients ranged in age from 12 to 84 years.
The Longhorn Steakhouse closed after customers started getting sick. The patients included people who ate at the restaurant from September 19 to October 2. St. Clair County Health Department investigators found food safety issues at the site.
The county health department reports the business has hired an outside company to clean the restaurant and trained staff on proper hand washing and safe food handling.
The health department also said employees must have two negative tests for Shigella, 24 hours apart, before being cleared to return to work. People who have had Shigella infections can still spread the infections for several weeks after their symptoms have cleared.
About Shigella infections
Food contaminated with Shigella bacteria does not look bad or smell bad. Anyone can become infected with Shigella. It is especially dangerous for infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems.
Shigella infection causes fever and diarrhea, which can become bloody. These symptoms occur one to two days after contact with the bacteria. Symptoms typically last 5 to 7 days, but some people may experience symptoms from a few days to 4 or more weeks.
People with diarrhea should contact their doctor if they have fever, bloody or prolonged diarrhea, severe stomach cramps, or dehydration. Shigella cases should be promptly reported by health care providers and laboratories to the local health department.
Disease transmission occurs when Shigella bacteria pass from one infected person to another. Shigella infections can also be acquired by eating contaminated food. The microscopic bacteria are present in the diarrheal stools of infected people while they are sick and for a few weeks afterward. Most infections occur when the germ passes from one person’s feces or soiled fingers to another person’s mouth.
The spread of Shigella from an infected person to other people can be stopped by carefully washing hands with soap and water, especially after using the toilet. In families with young children (including children in diapers), frequent and supervised handwashing of all children should be followed. Young children with Shigella infection who are still wearing diapers should not come into contact with uninfected children if possible. People with shigellosis should not prepare food or drinks for consumption by others until it has been proven that they no longer carry the Shigella bacteria.
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