Longhorn Steakhouse Shigellosis Outbreak Sickens 14 People

Unsafe Premises - October 4, 2024

14 Sickened, 6 Hospitalized In Shigellosis Outbreak At Fairview Heights Longhorn Steakhouse Within St. Claire County

Longhorn Steakhouse Shigellosis Outbreak Sickens 14 People

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS (October 3, 2024) – At least 14 people have become ill, and six people were hospitalized in a Shigellosis outbreak at a Fairview Heights Longhorn Steakhouse.

St. Claire County health officials are investigating a spike of bacterial infections that have been linked to a Longhorn Steakhouse.  According to health department officials, 12 of the 14 people who became sick ate at the steakhouse between September 21 and 22.

Shigella bacteria can be transmitted in a number of ways, including by contaminated food and improper handwashing. Both the St. Clair County Health Department and the Illinois Department of Public Health are working to prevent additional illnesses.

A representative for Longhorn Steakhouse said that they have temporarily closed the restaurant in order to sanitize everything. A full investigation into the incident remains ongoing at this time.

Liability For Illnesses Caused By Shigella Bacteria

Eating contaminated food remains one of the most common ways that people may become sick with a Shigella infection. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Shigella bacteria cause an infection called shigellosis. Shigella cause an estimated 450,000 infections in the United States each year, and antimicrobial resistant infections result in an estimated $93 million in direct medical costs.” There are a number of symptoms associated with a Shigella infection.

  • Diarrhea
  • Gastrointestinal pain
  • Fever
  • Tenesmus
  • Nausea

Restaurants have a legal obligation to protect guests from foreseeable sources of harm. This includes protecting them from foodborne illnesses. Pursuant to Illinois Civil Code 740 ILCS 130/2, property owners have a duty to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition. When a restaurant fails to maintain a sanitary environment that leads to illness, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.

Restaurants must abide by all health and safety regulations. Employees should be trained to uphold safety standards. This includes frequently disinfecting areas and ensuring all employees are practicing proper handwashing techniques. There are several mistakes that a restaurant might make that could contribute to a Shigellosis outbreak.

  • Restaurant employees may not properly wash their hands after using the bathroom.
  • Restaurant employees may not properly disinfect cutting boards or tools.
  • Restaurant employees may not refrigerate food properly.
  • Restaurant employees may use contaminated water for washing produce.

Depending on the facts of any case, there could be several liable parties for any shigellosis outbreak. The company that manufactured or distributed contaminated food products could be at fault. In many situations, food that arrives at a restaurant may already be contaminated from another source. It is crucial that victims of Shigella infections understand that they do have rights. They are able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim. A personal injury attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.

Getting Legal Help For Shigella Bacterial Infections

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to all of the people sickened by this shigellosis outbreak at the Fairview Heights Longhorn Steakhouse. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to health officials. It is our sincere hope that measures are taken to prevent similar incidents. The source and cause of the contamination need to be properly understood.

Have you or someone that you care about been sickened by the Longhorn Steakhouse shigellosis outbreak? Our team of food poisoning lawyers is here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that victims of food poisoning get the medical and financial support that they are entitled to under the law. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.