More illnesses tied to Fairview Heights restaurant are reported, first lawsuit filed
Twenty-three additional people have reported illness consistent with an infectious disease after dining at the LongHorn Steakhouse in Fairview Heights, the St. Clair County Health Department said in a news release Friday.
The individuals had dined at the restaurant from Sept. 14 to Oct. 1. Test results are pending for some of them, according to the health department.
The Fairview Heights location remains voluntarily closed as it continues to cooperate with the health department’s ongoing investigation, a representative of Darden Restaurants, which owns LongHorn Steakhouse, said in an email to the BND Friday.
The health department announced Wednesday that it was investigating a shigellosis outbreak among customers who had dined at the LongHorn Steakhouse at 6115 N. Illinois St. between Sept. 21 and 22. Shigellosis is an infectious disease with symptoms including diarrhea and fever.
Shigella are estimated to cause 450,000 infections in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of Friday, the health department had received 14 shigella reports from people testing positive after dining at the establishment. Six have required hospitalization.
The ages of those affected — including the initial 14 and 23 potential cases — range from 2 to 91 years old.
At least one lawsuit has been filed so far in the outbreak. Jory Lange, a food poisoning lawyer based in Texas, and local personal injury lawyer Eric Carlson filed the lawsuit in St. Clair County Thursday, according to a press release from Lange’s law firm and confirmed in circuit court records.
“More than a dozen people who got Shigella food poisoning after eating at LongHorn Steakhouse have asked us to represent them. The purpose of the lawsuit is to help people get compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, and the painful ordeal they have gone through,” Lange said in the release.
Symptoms
Shigellosis causes fever and diarrhea, which may become bloody, according to the St. Clair County Health Department. Symptoms occur one to two days after coming in contact with the bacteria and typically last five to seven days, although some people may experience symptoms for up to four or more weeks.
People with diarrhea should contact their doctor if they have a fever, bloody or prolonged diarrhea, severe stomach cramping or dehydration. Health care providers and labs should quickly report shigella cases to the health department and consider the diagnosis of shigellosis in patients with compatible symptoms.
Transmission
Shigella spreads easily, according to the CDC. Swallowing just a small amount of the germs can lead to infection.
The disease is spread when shigella bacteria pass from one infected person to the next, according to the health department. Infections also may be acquired from eating contaminated food.
“The bacteria are present in the diarrheal stools of infected persons while they are sick and for a few weeks afterwards. Most infections occur when the germ passes from the stool or soiled fingers of one person to the mouth of another person,” according to the health department.
Transmission can be stopped with careful hand washing with soap and water, particularly after using the restroom. Children should be supervised when washing their hands at home, says the release stated. People who have shigellosis should not prepare food or beverages for others until they are shown to no longer be carrying the shigella bacteria.
What to do if you’re sick
If you or a family member have eaten at the Fairview Heights LongHorn Steakhouse since Sept. 14 and have developed diarrheal illness within 12 hours to four days of eating, consult your doctor, according to the health department.
The department will release more information as its investigation continues.
This story was originally published October 4, 2024 at 5:56 PM.
