Disease

Shingella Outbreak in San Francisco, USA

Nearly 200 people in the San Francisco area have been sickened by an intestinal disease caused by the highly contagious Shigella bacteria since an outbreak began at a Mexican seafood restaurant 10 days ago, health officials said on Monday.

The outbreak had spread across six counties and infected 182 people as of last Friday, the Santa Clara County Public Health Department said in a statement.

Many of those sickened have required hospitalization and at least a dozen were admitted to intensive care units. Transmission typically occurs when faecal matter enters the mouth, possibly when an infected food handler prepares meals consumed by unwitting diners.

Shigella infections can trigger watery or bloody diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever and other symptoms. The bacteria is “extremely contagious,” sickened individuals should avoid going to work.