At least 116 people have been culture confirmed with Shigella sonnei infections apparently contracted at a Chicago-area Subway restaurant. Ten of the ill were hospitalized. Health authorities have worked to stop the outbreak by closing the restaurant at 1009 E. Roosevelt in Lombard; they have also launched an investigation. The DuPage County Health Department remained open over the March 6-7 weekend in order to field calls about the outbreak. There are estimates that 30-50 people have been sickened – the confirmed number will likely grow as more people get tested and results come in.
Shigella is a bacterium that can cause sudden and severe diarrhea (gastroenteritis) in humans. Shigellosis is the name of the disease that Shigella causes. The illness is also known as “bacillary dysentery.” A person can contract shigellosis by ingesting only a few organisms, which makes shigellosis the most communicable of the bacterial-induced diarrheas.
Marler Clark has been contacted by a number of people sickened at the restaurant, and on March 9, filed suit on behalf of a family whose son became infected with Shigella after eating at the Lombard Subway.
On March 12, and March 16, 2010, Marlerclark filed a second and third suit against the Lombard Subway on behalf of customers who became infected with Shigella.
As of March 22, 2010 Marlerclark represents 71 people sickened in this outbreak.
More information on Shigella can be found at Marler Clark’s website www.about-shigella.com
Source: Drew Falkenstein
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Subway lawsuits and food poisoning claims