Santa Clara County public health officials on Thursday said there are now 110 reported cases of Shigella stemming from a Mexican seafood restaurant.
Speaking at a news conference, County Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody said of that number, 92 are from Santa Clara County, 24 of which were lab confirmed. Of those confirmed in the lab, 19 are from Santa Clara County, she said. The remaining five confirmed cases were found in Santa Cruz, San Mateo and Alameda counties, she said.
"The vast majority" of all the cases are primary, she said, meaning that most of the people ate at Mariscos San Juan No. 3 at 205 N. 4th Street in San Jose on Oct. 16 and 17. The restaurant owner has declined several requests for comment from NBC Bay Area, and the restaurant has been closed since Sunday.
Symptoms of the intestinal infection include diarrhea, vomiting and fever. And at least two customers who say they contracted the disease and were hospitalized because of those symptoms have filed lawsuits against the restaurant.
Shigella is most frequently spread when someone's hands are covered in fecal matter, and doctors have been urging restaurant employees to wash their hands to prevent further cases.
Cody said it's still an "active investigation" to determine the first person who spread or contracted the disease, which can be treated with antiobiotics in most cases.
To report a case of Shigella, click here or call 408-885-4214.
Shigella Outbreak Linked to Restaurant Exposure in San Jose. Read more https://t.co/0oABHMZ6QU #HealthySCC #Shigella pic.twitter.com/A6QDW4MyA3 — Healthy SCC (@HealthySCC) October 20, 2015
