Shigella Outbreak at Los Angeles Union Conference Sparks Health Concerns

 

Shigella Outbreak at Los Angeles Union Conference Sparks Health Concerns

In a recent development, California health officials have reported that at least 32 individuals who attended a union conference held at the Westin Bonaventure in downtown Los Angeles last month fell ill due to an outbreak of Shigella bacteria. Of those affected, six required hospitalization, prompting an ongoing investigation in collaboration with the Alameda County Public Health Department.

The conference, which attracted over 300 attendees from across the state, took place from August 21 to 24. Shigella is known to spread easily and poses heightened risks, particularly to individuals with compromised immune systems due to illness or medical treatment. Consumption of food prepared by individuals carrying the bacteria is a common route of infection.

One attendee, Terri McDonald of Sacramento, disclosed her experience after participating in the August conference, which was organized by a coalition of unions representing Kaiser Permanente employees engaged in contract negotiations. It is worth noting that Kaiser unions had recently authorized the possibility of a strike.

The coalition relocated the conference from the InterContinental to the Bonaventure on August 18. This move came amid ongoing picketing by hotel workers at the InterContinental, who were demanding improved wages and working conditions. As contracts at over 60 hotel sites expired on June 30, strikes have been occurring intermittently since the Fourth of July weekend. The Bonaventure hotel is currently the sole establishment to have reached a tentative agreement with the union representing hotel workers, avoiding labor disputes.

Shortly after returning from Los Angeles, McDonald began experiencing symptoms such as nausea, bloody diarrhea, fever, and headaches. She filed a lawsuit against Marriott International, the hotel's operator, claiming that food served during the three-day conference was responsible for the outbreak. McDonald sought medical treatment at Kaiser on August 27 but continued to deteriorate, resulting in hospitalization until September 1. Doctors diagnosed her with sepsis and kidney dysfunction, emphasizing the urgency of her condition.

In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for the Bonaventure hotel stated, "The health, safety, and wellness of our guests and associates is paramount." The hotel cooperated fully with relevant public health agencies during the investigation, and recent inspections by L.A. County awarded the hotel's food and beverage operations with "A ratings." The spokesperson refrained from offering further comments due to the pending litigation.

Notably, past Shigella outbreaks have often been linked to child-care facilities, as infected individuals, both adults and children, can shed the bacteria in their feces for up to two weeks after symptom resolution. Although many Shigella infections result in mild symptoms that resolve without medical intervention, the bacterium can pose life-threatening risks if it enters the bloodstream.

According to a 2018 study, Shigella is responsible for an estimated 500,000 illnesses, 6,000 hospitalizations, and 40 deaths in the United States annually.