About Shigella

From the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of Shigella and other foodborne illness outbreaks.

Outbreaks

Viva Mexico Shigella Outbreak

In October of 2000, the California Department of Health Services identified Viva Mexico, a Redwood City, California restaurant, as the source of a large Shigella outbreak. According to the Division of Communicable Disease Control Branch final report on the outbreak:

Between October 19 and 24, approximately 221 individiuals became ill after eating at the Viva Mexico restaurant in Redwood City, CA. One death occurred in a female who ate at Viva Mexico on October 19. Symptoms included fever, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea (sometimes bloody) and dehydration. Seventy persons were culture-confirmed with Shigella Sonnei. Of 70 culture-confirmed individuals, 19 ate at Viva Mexico on October 19, 45 on October 20, 6 on October 21, and 1 on October 22. Analysis of data from a case-control study completed by San Mateo County Communicable Disease Control staff of all patients, completed by San Mateo County Communicable Disease Control staff of all patients, revealed a statistically significant association with salsa served at the table

Viva Mexico Mexican restaurant paid $55,000 in fines and agreed to make sure that employees washed their hands as part of an agreement struck with the San Mateo County district attorney after the outbreak.

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