A popular LongHorn Steakhouse in Fairview Heights, Illinois, was abruptly closed on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, following an investigation into a surge of severe food poisoning cases associated with the restaurant. The St. Clair County Health Department and Illinois Department of Health initiated the investigation after local hospitals reported an increase in Shigella infections, according to news station KSDK in St. Louis, Missouri.
Shigella is a bacteria that causes shigellosis, an infection characterized by symptoms such as bloody or prolonged diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever, which can last between five to seven days. In rare instances, shigellosis can lead to more severe complications, including reactive arthritis, bloodstream infections, and seizures.
As of Wednesday afternoon, health officials had received reports of 14 confirmed Shigella cases. Of these, 12 individuals had dined at the LongHorn Steakhouse between September 21 and 22, 2024. Six of the affected people required hospitalization due to the severity of their symptoms.
The restaurant was fully operational and serving customers at noon on Wednesday when local news station KSDK spoke with the manager. At that time, the manager stated that the restaurant had established protocols for handling foodborne illness situations and was cooperating with health department investigators. However, he was uncertain whether the restaurant would need to close as the investigation progressed.
Later that afternoon, the situation rapidly evolved. The restaurant was evacuated, and a sign was placed on the main entrance indicating that the establishment was closed for “cleaning and training.” The closure was expected to last through Thursday, with a planned reopening on Friday, October 4.
LongHorn Steakhouse has released a statement addressing the situation: “The health and safety of our guests and team members is our number one priority, which is why we have voluntarily closed our restaurant today and tomorrow. This will allow us to conduct an additional thorough sanitization of the restaurant using a hospital-grade disinfectant. Our Total Quality manager on site will also be reinforcing our food safety and sanitation practices with our team.”
Shigella symptoms typically appear within one to two days after exposure and can include fever, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. In some cases, the diarrhea may be bloody. Severe cases of Shigellosis can sometimes result in hospitalization and, in some instances, can lead to death.
While most cases of shigellosis resolve on their own, severe infections may require antibiotic treatment. The decision to use antibiotics depends on the severity of symptoms and the overall health of the patient. Shigella can be transmitted through contaminated food or water and, unlike other pathogens, through person-to-person contact.
Two of the infected individuals contacted KSDK to tell their story. After dining at the restaurant on September 22 the couple became ill a few days later. One of them experienced severe symptoms and required several days of hospitalization.
The St. Clair County Health Department has issued a public health advisory, urging anyone who ate at the LongHorn Steakhouse in Fairview Heights from September 21 onward and subsequently developed diarrheal illness within 12 hours to four days after their meal to consult with a medical doctor.
Health officials have stressed the importance of prompt reporting of Shigella cases to local health departments by healthcare providers and laboratories. This timely reporting is crucial for tracking the outbreak and implementing necessary control measures.
Health officials are working to identify the exact cause of the outbreak and prevent further spread of the infection and will likely examine food preparation practices, ingredient sources, potential cross-contamination issues, and more within the restaurant.
As it becomes available, the St. Clair County Health Department will release additional information to the public.
In recent weeks, Food Poisoning News has reported on a similar outbreak of foodborne illness at a restaurant in the Los Angeles area where 44 people suffered symptoms of food poisoning caused by the bacterium Salmonella.
Commenting on this article, national Shigella lawyer Ron Simon, whose firm has handled over 6,000 food poisoning claims, said: “Proper food safety practices, especially those in food service businesses like restaurants that serve large numbers of people, should never rest. When negligence happens people can get sick, sometimes severely. Any customer of this LongHorn Steakhouse who is experiencing symptoms consistent with food poisoning should contact a healthcare provider immediately.”
