Twelve people in intensive care and more than 80 ill 'after eating at same Mexican seafood restaurant in California'

  • Dozens fell ill after dining at Mariscos San Juan in San Jose on Friday and Saturday, health officials said 
  • Customers came down with the 'very infectious' Shigella bacteria, which causes severe fever, diarrhea and stomach pain 
  • The bacteria is spread by people who do not wash their hands after using the bathroom 
  • Health officials now worry more than 100 could be infected this week 
  • The restaurant's permit was suspended and it closed on Sunday 

By Associated Press and Dailymail.com Reporter

Published: 01:00 EST, 21 October 2015 | Updated: 09:31 EST, 21 October 2015

More than 80 people contracted a bacterial infection that put 12 in intensive care after dining at a northern California Mexican seafood restaurant over the weekend.

Mariscos San Juan in downtown San Jose was closed after dozens of their customers came down with the 'very infectious' Shigella bacteria, which causes severe fever, diarrhea and stomach pain, according to public health officials.

The bacteria is spread by people who do not wash their hands after using the bathroom, according to Santa Clara County health officer Dr. Sara Cody.  

More than 80 people contracted bacterial infection Shigella that put 12 in intensive care after dining at Mariscos San Juan in San Jose, California on Friday and Saturday

More than 80 people contracted bacterial infection Shigella that put 12 in intensive care after dining at Mariscos San Juan in San Jose, California on Friday and Saturday

Health officials believe a contaminated food handler spread the disease and now worry that 100 more people could become infected this week, according to the San Jose Mercury News. 

'It doesn't take very much for this bacteria to spread,' Cody said. 

Shigella is treatable with antibiotics. It can be fatal in rare cases, but all persons infected over the weekend are expected to recover. No children were among the ill.

Cody said some of the 80 people who had become sick represented a 'small wave of secondary infections', meaning they were most likely infected by someone who had dined at Mariscos.

The Santa Clara County Public Health Department was notified of the outbreak after a local hospital received five cases on Saturday. 

Mariscos San Juan has since had its license suspended and will remain closed until 'the safety of the public can be assured', county officials said. 

Calls to the restaurant by The Associated Press rang unanswered Tuesday. 

Inspectors found nothing suspicious with the two additional Mariscos San Juan restaurants in San Jose and they remain open.   

Health officials believe a contaminated food handler spread the disease and now worry that 100 more people could become infected this week. The restaurant was closed Saturday and its permit has been suspended

Health officials believe a contaminated food handler spread the disease and now worry that 100 more people could become infected this week. The restaurant was closed Saturday and its permit has been suspended

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