Santa Clara County health officials have reported that a food handler at the Mariscos San Juan restaurant #3 has tested positive for the Shigella bacteria that has sickened 190 people who ate at the restaurant. However, the officials say that the employee was not the source of the outbreak and likely a victim as well.

The Shigella outbreak that has now sickened 190 people from six counties, most of whom ate at Mariscos San Juan restaurant on 4th Street, health officials said. But they said the outbreak appears to be tapering off.

“Despite not having a ‘smoking gun’ that caused the outbreak,” Public Health Director Sr. Sara Cody said, “we do know that the outbreak stemmed from this restaurant, and we have taken the necessary actions to protect the public.”

Of the 190 people county officials say have been stricken by the Shigella bacteria, which causes severe diarrhea, 151 are Santa Clara County residents and the rest are from San Mateo, Alameda, Santa Cruz, Marin and Merced counties. Nearly all of them are people who said they ate at Mariscos on October 16 or17. Officials shut the restaurant down on the 18th.

Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of Shigella outbreaks. The Shigella lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of Shigella and other foodborne illness outbreaks and have recovered over $600 million for clients.  Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation.  Our Shigella lawyers have litigated Shigella cases stemming from outbreaks traced to a variety of sources, such as tomatoes, airplane and restaurant food.

If you or a family member became ill with a Shigella infection after consuming food and you’re interested in pursuing a legal claim, contact the Marler Clark Shigella attorneys for a free case evaluation.