Shigellosis outbreak associated with Tamarind Tree Restaurant in Seattle

Highlights, updated April 5, 2023

Summary

Public Health investigated an outbreak of Shigellosis associated with Tamarind Tree Restaurant in Seattle. Symptoms reported included diarrhea, cramps, nausea, fever, chills, and vomiting.

Illnesses

As of February 28, 2023, 32 people reported becoming ill after eating food from the Tamarind Tree Restaurant. These 32 people ate at this restaurant January 15 – 17, 2023, and started having symptoms January 17 – 20, 2022.

Public Health actions

Environmental Health investigators visited the restaurant on January 24, 2023. They observed improper food handling practices, including blocked access to handwashing facilities, improper storage of wiping cloths, risk of cross contamination, and lack of maintenance, cleaning, and sanitizing of food equipment and physical facilities.

Environmental Health investigators did a routine inspection on January 18, 2023. They observed several risk factors that could contribute to foodborne outbreaks, including bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods.

Investigators closed the restaurant during their visit on January 24, 2023. The restaurant was required to complete a thorough cleaning and disinfection. On February 7, Environmental Health investigators revisited the restaurant to confirm proper cleaning and disinfection, and the restaurant reopened that day.

Investigators provided education about preventing the spread of gastrointestinal illness — including proper handwashing and preventing bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods. Investigators have also reviewed with restaurant management the requirement that people with a gastrointestinal illness who work in food handling should not work while ill, and those with diagnosed Shigella infections who work in food handling must be cleared by Public Health before returning to work to make sure they are no longer contagious.

Public Health did not identify any ill employees. Public Health worked with the restaurant to complete testing for all employees because some people infected with Shigella do not have symptoms and investigators observed several risk factors that could contribute to the spread of Shigella. No employees tested positive for Shigella.

Laboratory testing

Ten of the 32 people who became ill tested positive for Shigella. Nine cases had confirmatory testing indicating Shigella sonnei, a species of Shigella. Symptoms among those who did not get tested were suggestive of a Shigella infection.