Tag Archives: Shigellosis

USA – Christmas Updates – Shigella – Raw Milk Cheese – Listeria – Shellfish- Norovirus

Shigella blog

In 2013, the state of Indiana reported approximately 100 cases of the gastrointestinal bacterial infection, shigellosis. This year, state health officials say that number is more than 1,000.

Every year, about 14,000 cases of shigellosis are reported in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Food Safety News

Farm Country Cheese House of Lakeview, MI, is recalling about 1,136 pounds of Raw Milk Cheddar because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The Raw Milk Cheddar was distributed in Michigan, specifically in the Grand Rapids and Detroit metro areas, through retail stores and specialty shops.

 

Washington State health officials issued an emergency closure for harvesting and ordered a recall for all shellfish originating from a portion of Mason County’s Hammersley Inlet after several people who ate raw oysters became ill.

At least a dozen people who ate raw oysters in November became ill with symptoms often linked to norovirus, a common stomach virus that spreads easily through contaminated food or surfaces and person-to-person contact. Laboratory tests confirmed norovirus in two cases.

 

Research – All About Shigella –

Food Poisoning Journal shigella

Shigella is the bacterium that causes the disease shigellosis, also known as bacillary dysentery. Shigella is one of the most easily transmitted bacterial diarrheas, since it can occur after fewer than 100 bacteria are ingested. While reported cases of Shigella range between 14,000 and 20,000 annually, with the majority of these cases occurring between July and October. Shigella Sonnei is the most common type of Shigella. It accounts for over two-thirds of cases of shigellosis in the United States.

USA – Two Shigella Outbreaks – Texas and Cleveland

Shigella Blog220px-Shigella_stool

Public Health officials are seeing a rise in Shigellosis cases in the Cleveland area, especially among children. As a result, the Cleveland Department of Public Health is encouraging parents, schools, daycare centers, and health care providers to take precautionary actions to prevent the spread of Shigellosis.

Shigellosis is a highly contagious form of diarrhea caused by Shigella bacteria. Shigella spreads from person to person contact and may cause severe diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. Parents of children, or anyone with symptoms of Shigellosis should contact their healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.

Symptoms may last from 48 to 72 hours and frequently include diarrhea (may be watery or bloody), fever, and stomach cramps. School aged children and children in daycare centers should not return to school until symptoms have ceased and laboratory cultures test negative for Shigella.

Shigella Blog

Four more cases of Shigella have been reported in Grayson County bringing the total countywide cases to 98.

Shigella began spreading in November mainly at Sherman and Denison ISD.

Officials with the Grayson County Health Department hoped that school winter breaks would halt the spread of the bacterial infection.

Amanda Ortez with the department says she believes children with shigella, home for the holidays, have been infecting their family members.

USA – Shigella and Legionella Outbreaks

Shigella Blog

Health officials at the Florida Department of Health in Broward County are advising parents, schools and daycare centers to take precautionary action to prevent the spread of Shigellosis. Shigellosis is a highly contagious form of diarrhea caused by Shigella bacteria. Shigella can spread through person to person contact and may cause severe diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. Parents of children, or anyone with symptoms of Shigellosis should contact their healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.

Food Posioning Blog

October 23, 2013  by Leave a Comment

To date, one person has died and several others have been sickened in an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease linked to Glenwood Nursing Home in Florence, Alabama. Legionnaires’ is a form of pneumonia caused by inhaling water mist containing Legionella bacteria.

All confirmed and suspected cases have been either residents or visitors to the nursing home. The one person who has died in the outbreak was a woman who visited the facility with two family members. She later developed respiratory symptoms and was hospitalized. Tests confirmed Legionnaires disease (Legionella pneumonia). The other family members were also sickened.