8/10/2007

Updated Information on Reported Shigella Outbreak IN PASADENA

Pasadena – The Pasadena Public Health Department’s ongoing Shigella outbreak investigation, in coordination with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, has identified a total of 44 confirmed or suspected cases linked to the Souplantation in Pasadena on Lake Avenue.  Thirteen of these cases have been verified by laboratory testing and the samples are undergoing additional testing to determine if the strain is related to any other outbreaks throughout the country.  Additional reported cases are awaiting confirmation and are still being investigated 

On August 2, the Public Health Department had narrowed down the site of the outbreak to customers who ate at the Souplantation located at 201 Lake Avenue in Pasadena, during the dates of Sunday, July 22 through Wednesday, July 25.  

Souplantation, which had voluntarily closed on August 3, plans to reopen on Friday, August 10. 

The restaurant has worked with the Pasadena Public Health Department to implement on-site food handling safety and storage classes this week for all their employees. Although environmental health inspectors did not identify any violations at the site during this investigation, the restaurant has conducted a thorough deep cleaning and sanitizing of their entire facility. Environmental health staff completed follow-up inspections with the restaurant facility on August 9 and 10.  In cooperation with the restaurant, all employees at the Pasadena location were also evaluated over the past week and must be cleared by the Public Health Department before they can return to work. Souplantation’s customer service number, set up last week, is (800) 328-7761.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shigellosis is an infectious disease caused by a group of bacteria, called Shigella, that can cause severe diarrhea in humans. Other symptoms may include fever and abdominal cramps. Illness often occurs 1 to 2 days after exposure to Shigella and can last 5 to 7 days or more. The Shigella bacteria can pass from one infected person to the next, often through stool or soiled fingers. 

According to Dr. Takashi Wada, Director and Health Officer for the Pasadena Public Health Department, “It is fortunate that we were able to work with our counterparts in Los Angeles County and with Souplantation to aggressively investigate this Shigella outbreak. Although our investigation is ongoing, we are confident that we have been able to limit its spread.”

For more information call Joy Guihama - (626) 744-6050

The City of Pasadena is one of only three cities in the state of California that maintains its own independent local health jurisdiction with responsibility for a wide variety of services that support the three core public health functions of assessment, policy development and assurance.  For over 110 years, the Pasadena Public Health Department has been protecting and assuring the health of the greater Pasadena community.  For information on a wide variety of public health clinics and programs, call (626) 744-6005.

For media inquiries, please contact Joy Guihama, (626) 744-6050.

8/2/2007

Public Health Department Investigates Increase in Reported Shigella Cases

The Pasadena Public Health Department has recently received an increased number of reported Shigellosis cases and is currently investigating the possible source for the 30 suspected  or confirmed Shigella cases, reported to the Department from July 30 to August 2.  The suspected or confirmed cases are residents from Pasadena and other cities within the Los Angeles County area. The Department is working closely with both the state and county’s departments of public health on this disease investigation.

“At this stage of the investigation,” said Dr. Takashi Wada, public health director and health officer, “we have narrowed down the site of the outbreak to customers who ate at the Soup Plantation at 201 Lake Avenue in Pasadena during the dates of Sunday, July 22 through Tuesday, July 24.” Dr. Wada also added, “The restaurant has been cooperative with our investigation and is proactively instituting additional food handling safety procedures and having all employees of this location tested for Shigella.”  

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shigellosis is an infectious disease caused by a group of bacteria, called Shigella, that causes severe diarrhea in humans. Other symptoms may include fever and abdominal cramps. Illness often occurs 1 to 2 days after exposure to Shigella and can last 5 to 7 days or more. The Shigella bacteria can pass from one infected person to the next, often through stool or soiled fingers. 

Shigellosis can usually be treated with antibiotics and most people with an infection recover completely.  The easiest way to prevent or minimize the spread and impact of this, and many other transmittable infections, is to practice good hygiene habits, such as hand washing especially before handling food and after using the toilet.

The Pasadena Public Health Department is asking those experiencing these symptoms after eating at the Pasadena Soup Plantation during the dates of Sunday, July 22 through Tuesday, July 24 to contact their health care provider for evaluation or call the Communicable Disease Division at (626) 744-6089.  For more information, visit www.cityofpasadena.net or call (626) 744-6012. 

For more information on Shigella visit the CDC's website at http://www.cdc.gov/ or access their Shigella page directly at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/shigellosis_g.htm

For over 110 years, the City of Pasadena Public Health Department has been working to protect and assure the health of the surrounding Pasadena community. For information about programs, clinics and services, please call 626-744-6005.005.