Shigella outbreak definition, symptoms & treatment: 93 sick, 12 in intensive care after eating at a Californian restaurant

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A San Jose seafood restaurant in California is currently in hot water after customers have reportedly been sick due to food poisoning linked to Shigella bacteria. The California health officials is currently doing an investigation of the outbreak as they try to get to the bottom of the real source of the contamination.

More than 90 people have already complained of experiencing symptoms such as fever, abdominal pains, and diarrhea after eating out at the Mariscos San Juan Restaurant on 4th Street; about 12 of them wound up in intensive care unit. Health officials confirm that more than a couple of dozens of those who have been infected were already diagnosed with Shigella, according to a report by the ABC News.

Shigella is a bacterial and diarrheal disease that is accountable to about 500,000 cases of diarrhea in the United States every year. Apart from diarrhea, fever and abdominal pain, symptoms may also include Tenesmus, which is associated with irritable bowel syndrome where patients feel the need to defecate even if the bowels are empty, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP).

The symptoms of Shigella may manifest after a day or two of contracting the bacteria. These symptoms could last for five days and even up to a week. The patients could develop a certain immunity for the disease which makes them resistant to Shigella for several years. They could, however, get sick from other strains of the bacteria.

Healthier patients with mild Shigella may not need to take any medication and only rely on fluids and rest. For severe cases, doctors may prescribe antibiotic treatment to help cut down the period of time for a fast recovery from the symptoms. Patients have to consult with their doctors on the kind of antibiotics to take because the Shigella bacteria are often resistant to antibiotics, according to CDCP.

SFGate reports that two of those infected with Shigella have already filed a lawsuit against the owners of the California restaurant. Gregory Meissner and Daniel Estrada were both seeking for unspecified damages. They suffered from severe cases of the different symptoms after eating at the restaurant on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

"As a result of the defendants' negligence, the plaintiff suffered severe and permanent personal injuries as well as economic loss," wrote Meissner's attorney, William Marler, in a complaint filed Wednesday before the Santa Clara County Superior Court.

As of yet, there is no available vaccine that has been developed to prevent Shigella. The disease is highly contagious and can be transmitted through contaminated food or water. CDCP recommends washing of the hands before eating, adhering to food and water precautions, and avoiding swallowing of water from public pools, and ponds or lakes.