Shigella Outbreak At San Jose Restaurant, 80 People Affected

Mexican seafood restaurant Mariscos San Juan, located in San Jose, Calif., was shut down Sunday by Santa Clara County health authorities after a Shigella outbreak affected 80 customers, reported officials.

The symptoms of Shigella are sudden attacks of fever and diarrhea. Fifteen out of the 80 people who have shown symptoms have tested positive with the Shigella bacteria and have been placed under intensive care in the Valley Medical Center, according to Santa Clara County Public Health Department spokeswoman Allison Thrash, reported the San Francisco Gate.

It is unclear whether all of the people affected with the Shigella virus dined at Mariscos or had just been in contact with someone already infected, according to ABC News.

Health experts became alarmed after five people, who all ate at Mariscos and showed similar symptoms of fever and diarrhea, were rushed to different hospitals. They all tested positively with Shigella.

"The investigation is still ongoing," said Thrash, according to the Inquisitr. "We're trying to get to the bottom of it."

The majority of the victims of the Shigella outbreak dined at the restaurant Friday or Saturday. Most of those who were infected had to be hospitalized, but some tried to recover by themselves.

"What we know is everyone who was ill has eaten at that restaurant location," said Dr. Sara Cody, a Health Officer, according to the Inquisitir. "The restaurant is closed until we can be assured that there is no further risk to the public."

Mariscos has three locations in San Jose, but only the one on Senter Road remains open.