FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. — As the St. Clair County Health Department continues its investigation into food poisoning cases at a Fairview Heights restaurant, officials are now surveying customers on what they ate in the weeks before the restaurant closed.
The county health department and the Illinois Department of Public Health are still looking into what caused Shigellosis cases at the LongHorn Steakhouse on 6115 North Illinois St. The outbreak led to over a dozen confirmed cases of Shigella, which causes fever and diarrhea which can become bloody.
At least eight people were hospitalized, the St. Clair County Health Department said Monday. The number of confirmed Shigella infections from lab testing is now 20, and the number of "probable cases" is 22.
Health officials said in an attempt to narrow down what food or foods are potentially linked directly to the Shigella infection, anyone who dined at that LongHorn from Sept. 20 up to the date of closing on Oct. 2 are asked to fill out a survey of what food they ate at the restaurant. The survey link can be found here.
The health department said the LongHorn Steakhouse remained closed as the investigation continues into the cause of the outbreak, which is still unknown. It added that restaurant representatives are cooperating with health officials and working to determine the source of the infection.
Jory Lange, a food poisoning lawyer at Lange Law Firm, said he has filed three lawsuits linked to the LongHorn Steakhouse outbreak. Lange said he was representing several families after dozens of people contacted his law firm.
What is Shigella?
Shigella infection, or shigellosis, causes fever and diarrhea. These symptoms occur one to two days after coming in contact with the bacteria. Symptoms typically last five to seven days, but some people may experience symptoms anywhere from a few days to 4 or more weeks.
What should I do if I have, or had symptoms?
"Understandably, the health department has been inundated with calls from the public and from those who had dined at the establishment with questions and seeking information related to this outbreak," the county health department said.
The department said anyone who has eaten at the steakhouse between Sept. 20 and Oct. 2 and developed diarrheal illness within 12 to 96 hours after eating, and who are still symptomatic, should speak with their physician. A stool sample should be sent for testing.
Anyone who ate at the restaurant during those dates, regardless of if they suffered any symptoms, are asked to fill out the survey, which will help health officials isolate which food or foods caused the infections.