Shigella was in the news this week following an outbreak of Shigellosis linked to a Subway restaurant in Lombard, Illinois. With eight confirmed cases of Shigella food poisoning and other possibly related illnesses reported, the Subway restaurant was closed. In addition, South Carolina’s St. James High School in Horry County had to be disinfected following an outbreak of stomach related ailments.... [more]

Mentally, I have been planning a camping trip for several years now. Sleeping under the starry skies and hiking through some of the most pristine forests this country has to offer. I have looked at backpacks with lightweight frames, moleskin to prevent blisters, outdoor cooking equipment, and, of course, a coffee pot. One interesting thing that I have looked at are water treatment tablets. After researching... [more]

An article by Heywood Hoffman posted on ChicagoBreakingNews.com discussed possible Shigella contamination at a Subway restaurant in Lombard, Illinois.  Although results are still pending, the preliminary examination leads investigators to believe that this could  be Shigellosis food poisoning. The restaurant is currently closed. Four individuals, out of eight who became sick, have been hospitalized. According... [more]

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) is a potentially fatal disorder that can follow contraction of  E. coli O157:H7 food poisoning. HUS is a disorder that typically wreaks havoc on an individual’s kidneys and the body’s red blood cells. Interestingly, HUS is not only associated with post E. coli infections. It has also been linked to foodborne illness cases of Shigella and Salmonella. Children are... [more]

As emergency teams rushed to Haiti to provide supplies and medical assistance to injured victims, one of the main health issues that arose was maintaining the safety of the water supply. A January 13, 2010 CNN article entitled “Haiti Earthquake Could Trigger Medical ‘Perfect Storm,’” describes how animal feces and decaying bodies can contaminate available water causing diarrheal infections... [more]

Food irradiation is a possible method of getting rid of harmful bacteria, such as E. coli, on meats, fruits, and vegetables. According to the CDC, this process can reduce consumer contact with Camplylobacter, Salmonella, and E. coli O157:H7, which can lead to foodborne illnesses and potentially fatal complications such as Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). For example, meat can be bombarded with gamma... [more]

Yesterday’s issue of the SheboyganPress.com discussed a recent Wisconsin E. coli outbreak.  According to the newspaper, several children living in very close proximity to each other contracted E. coli.  Unfortunately, one child developed a potentially fatal complication known as Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome or HUS, which resulted in several surgeries, transfusions, and dialysis.  HUS, often linked... [more]

Data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s FoodNet Facts and Figures website shows that children under four have the highest number of cases of bacterial and parasitic infections when compared to older individuals.  Per 100,000 individuals, there were over 28 children younger than four who contracted campylobacter, nearly 75 diagnosed with Salmonella, and 27 infected with Shigella.... [more]

Shigella is a genus of bacteria that causes diarrheal illness in humans. Shigella microbes are known to pass person to person and food can sometimes serve as a contamination source. Shigella were discovered over 100 years ago by a Japanese scientist named Shiga, for whom they are named. There are several species of Shigella bacteria: Shigella sonnei, also known as “Group D” Shigella, accounts... [more]

Shigellosis is an infectious disease caused by a group of bacteria called Shigella. Most people infected with Shigella develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps starting a day or two after they are exposed to the bacteria. The diarrhea is often bloody. Shigellosis typically resolves in 5 to 7 days. Some persons who are infected may have no symptoms at all, but may still pass the Shigella bacteria... [more]