Investigators work to track down source of Shigella bacteria outbreak at Altamonte Springs day care

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — The Seminole County Health Department was working Thursday to track down the source of an outbreak of Shigella bacterial infections at an Altamonte Springs day care.

While the Health Department would not release information on how many adults and/or children were infected, officials did categorize the situation as an outbreak.

The Shigella bacteria can cause diarrhea, fever and cramps, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Symptoms can start showing up one to two days after the initial exposure to the bacteria and generally last five to seven days, the CDC said.

It could be weeks, or months, before officials in Seminole County are able to track down the source of the recent outbreak.

“Our epidemiology team works to contact whoever has symptoms to ask any questions to them and try to figure out how people got this bacteria,” said Mirna Chamorro, with the Florida Department of Health.

The day care involved can remain open as the investigation is ongoing, but the situation will be monitored, Chamorro said.

Cox Media Group