At least 17 people have been sickened in a Shigella outbreak at Tamarind Tree restaurant in Seattle. Customers became ill after dining at the restaurant, located at 1036 S Jackson St., on January 15, 16, and 17, 2023.
Shigella infections are spread through the fecal-oral route, meaning bacteria in an infected person’s stool are ingested. At restaurants, this can happen if an infected food handler does not wash hands carefully after using the restroom. Food can also become contaminated by an infected food handler before it reaches the restaurant. As of January, 30, King County health officials had not identified any ill employees.
CDC image of a Shigella culture.
During visits to the restaurant, King County health investigators observed several food safety violations that could contribute to foodborne illness including bare-hand contact with ready-to-eat foods, blocked access to handwashing facilities, cross-contamination risk, and sub-standard maintenance and cleaning of equipment and kitchen areas.
On January 24, investigators closed the restaurant and required the staff to complete a thorough cleaning and disinfection before reopening. Food safety measures, including the requirement that staff members who are sick are not allowed to work until they are symptom-free for at least 48 hours, were also reviewed.
Symptoms of a Shigella infection, include fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea that can be bloody, and the urge to have a bowel movement even when the bowels are empty. These symptoms usually develop within one to two days of exposure. In some cases, a Shigella infection can cause severe complications including reactive arthritis, and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
Free Shigella Lawsuit Consultation
If you contracted a Shigella infection and would like a free consultation with an experienced Shigella lawyer about a potential lawsuit, please contact the Pritzker Hageman Shigella Legal Team. You can reach us by calling 1-888-377-8900, sending a text to 612-261-0856, or by completing the form below. There is no obligation and we don’t get paid unless we win.