Florida health officials on Tuesday linked an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness caused by Shigella bacteria to a daycare center in Altamonte Springs, according to a report from WESH.
The outbreak has sickened both parents and children at the Kids City USA daycare. However, the Florida Department of Health has not disclosed how many cases of the illness have been identified, according to the report. Health officials are working with the daycare to prevent the spread of the illness.
Shigellosis is characterized by mild to severe diarrhea, but can also include symptoms like fever, nausea, vomiting, cramps and bloody stools. Shigella are highly contagious bacteria transmitted via person-to-person contact, causing approximately 500,000 illnesses in the U.S. annually, according to the CDC.
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