FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. — The LongHorn Steakhouse in Fairview Heights is now approved to reopen, two weeks after it voluntarily closed over an investigation into food poisoning.
The restaurant temporarily closed on Oct. 2 after customers tested positive for shigella, a bacterial infection that can cause stomach pains, fever and diarrhea that can be bloody.
The St. Clair County Health Department said its inspectors have been at the restaurant and gave direction to the business' staff and officials. It said the business hired professional cleaners and further trained restaurant staff on proper handwashing and safe food handling practices.
The health department also said employees are required to have two negative tests for shigella, 24 hours apart, before being cleared to return to work.
The department said as of Oct. 17, 26 people tested positive for shigella and an additional 66 people reported illnesses consistent with shigellosis after dining at that LongHorn Steakhouse between Sept. 19 and Oct. 2.
Ages ranged from 12 to 84, and a total of 12 people were hospitalized.
The department said the investigation into the cause of the shigellosis outbreak is ongoing.
As of Thursday, the business had not publicly stated a reopening date.
How shigella is spread
The St. Clair County Health Department said shigella germs are in feces, which can spread easily when hands are not properly or thoroughly cleaned.
It said shigella can spread from one person to another, or through contaminated water, food, surfaces or objects.
The department said shigella infection or shigellosis symptoms usually start one to two days after infection and last 7 days.