Allegheny County reports outbreak of diarrheal illness

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Allegheny County reports outbreak of diarrheal illness

Posted: 2/17/2010 10:11:13 AM EDT

http://postgazette.com/pg/10048/1036499-455.stm

Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Allegheny County Health Department today reported that a growing number of county residents are being diagnosed with a diarrheal illness known as shigellosis.

The disease is caused by a group of bacteria called shigella that can be easily spread person-to-person or through contaminated food, water or beverages when people do not carefully wash their hands after using the toilet or changing diapers.

A news release said 60 shigellosis cases have been reported countywide since October –– 34 so far this year –– compared to just 12 cases of the disease in all of 2008 and five in 2007. Nearly half of the 60 cases were children 5 or younger and about one-third of the cases had contact with a family member or someone in a school or day care center who had diarrheal illness.

Besides diarrhea that may be bloody, symptoms of the disease include fever and stomach cramps that appear a day or two after being exposed to the bacteria. The symptoms usually last five to seven days, but in some cases people have no symptoms at all yet may still pass the bacteria on to others.

While anyone can get shigella, the disease is most severe in children and the elderly but rarely requires hospitalization. Most people get better on their own, but those who have diarrhea for more than a couple of days should contact their health care provider.

The best way to prevent shigellosis is to wash hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 30 seconds, especially after using the toilet, changing diapers, handling any stool-soiled material and before eating or preparing food and beverages.

Posted: 2/17/2010 10:18:44 AM EDT

[#1]

I've been feeling sick since sunday, but no diarrhea.

Posted: 2/17/2010 10:21:10 AM EDT

[#2]

The begining of a zombie outbreak?

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile

Posted: 2/17/2010 10:27:17 AM EDT

[#3]

Man, that's a shitty way to go.

Posted: 2/17/2010 10:28:35 AM EDT

[#4]

Posted: 2/17/2010 10:29:49 AM EDT

[#5]

Good thing I don't work in Pittsburgh anymore. That would have been a crap shoot.

Posted: 2/17/2010 10:32:42 AM EDT

[#6]

Some people have got the shits.

Why is this news?

I don't get it

Posted: 2/17/2010 10:33:30 AM EDT

[#7]

Was this a result of eating at Ryan's Steak House?

Posted: 2/17/2010 11:04:34 AM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:

Some people have got the shits.

Why is this news?

I don't get it

Shigellosis is a serious disease. It can be spread in preschools, day cares, restaurants, etc.

If fresh-from-over-the-border Jose is working in the kitchen preparing your salad and doesn't stay home when he's feeling sick and doesn't wash his hands very well he can infect hundreds, if not thousands, of people.

That's why they pay attention to it.

Posted: 2/17/2010 11:07:00 AM EDT

[#9]

This could be a shitty situation.....

Posted: 2/17/2010 11:09:06 AM EDT

[#10]

Just got diarrhea yesterday.

Posted: 2/17/2010 11:09:22 AM EDT

[#11]

Crap (No pun intended)

I live in Westmoreland county, which boarders Allegheny County.

Posted: 2/17/2010 11:13:06 AM EDT

[#12]

George Bush's fault.

Everything is, according to Obama.

Posted: 2/17/2010 11:18:49 AM EDT

[#13]

My four year old daughter had a confirmed case Monday and my other two children currently have the same symptoms, but the stool cultures aren't done yet. My youngest spent most of last night in the ER with an IV pushing fluids and a 103 degree fever. No fun at all. For the small children it can be especially serious causing severe dehydration and seizures.

Also this is in the Missouri area, and the cases will also be reported to the Health Dept. No idea where they picked it up. None of them go to day care and only one is in school.

Posted: 2/17/2010 11:28:20 AM EDT

[#14]

Shure, has nothing to do with eating those "garbage plates".

Posted: 2/17/2010 11:36:17 AM EDT

[#15]

Ass to mouth disease?

Posted: 2/17/2010 11:41:39 AM EDT

[#16]

Dysentery?

I've been feeling sick since yesterday...

ETA: Who is going to be the first to call dibs on my stuff?

Posted: 2/17/2010 11:50:55 AM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:

Shure, has nothing to do with eating those "garbage plates".

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/2913/rochester-n-y_is-the-garbage_plate.jpg

That looks delicious!

Posted: 2/17/2010 12:32:43 PM EDT

[#18]

Damn....now I gotta step up my timetable for building my own Lobo.

Posted: 2/17/2010 12:34:14 PM EDT

[#19]

Cleverly disguised poop thread.

Posted: 2/17/2010 12:39:06 PM EDT

[#20]

How many muslims in that county??

Wha.....Just askin' a question!!

Posted: 2/17/2010 12:58:27 PM EDT

[#21]

Shitsburgh....three rivers of the stuff.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Allegheny County reports outbreak of diarrheal illness

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