The Shigella outbreak in San Jose has spread to nearby counties in the Bay Area after health authorities were informed of more infected patients. The outbreak began during the weekend at a Mariscos restaurant in San Jose, as previously reported by HNGN.
There are five more confirmed cases of the Shigella outbreak in the counties of Alameda, Santa Cruz and San Mateo, health officials announced Thursday, according to The Los Angeles Times.
The numbers of those affected by the Shigella outbreak have risen to 110 cases from 80 confirmed infections on Wednesday, according to health officials of the Santa Clara county. Ninety-two of those 110 people showing Shigella infection symptoms are from Santa Clara county, while the others reside from nearby counties.
Public Health reports 110 #Shigella cases. Reminds public that proper hand washing is critical to prevent spread. pic.twitter.com/15ZQi44gRB
— Santa Clara County (@SCCgov) October 22, 2015
Dr. George Han, a county deputy health officer, announced that 12 of those who were placed under intensive care have either checked out of the hospital or sought further treatment in other hospitals, according to Fox News. Shigella affects the intestines, and those infected show symptoms of sudden fever abdominal pain and severe diarrhea. The disease can be distributed whenever people do not clean up after using the bathroom.
Wanna stop #shigella, flu and more? Remember to wash your hands! Learn how here: https://t.co/LcEiQojNBO pic.twitter.com/aHKMYZOmhK — SMC Health System (@SMCHealth) October 22, 2015
Infectious disease expert Dr. William Schaffne said that health officials could also look into the angle of unsanitary food handling or check the produce used to see whether they were infected with polluted water.
"If produce comes in from the developing world, on occasion fresh produce has been irrigated or freshened with polluted water," Schaffner explained, according to ABC News. "This is serious business. It is a highly infectious agent."
Two men have filed lawsuits against the Moriscos restaurant in San Juan after they dined there during the weekend and got infected, according to KLIV 1500 Silicon Valley News.
