Woman falls seriously-ill after eating LongHorn Steakhouse chicken and strawberry salad

A pathogenic bacteria has left nearly 100 people seriously ill after dining out at a popular restaurant chain last month.

Sylvia Ledbetter said she “just can’t go back,” after her last experience at her then-favorite restaurant, LongHorn Steakhouse.

The O’Fallon, Illinois native’s September experience has since dismantled her weekly plans at the Fairview Heights location, as she and a friend would go three to four times a month.

On her last visit, the 66-year-old ordered a strawberry lemonade, chicken and strawberry salad and a potato soup before becoming very unwell.

The O’Fallon, Illinois resident’s September experience has since dismantled her weekly plans at the Fairview Heights location, as she and a friend would go three to four times a month

On her last visit, the 66-year-old ordered a strawberry lemonade, chicken and strawberry salad and a potato soup before becoming very unwell

“My stomach pain was on a scale of maybe 9 or 9 and a half,” Ledbetter said, adding that her pain “could have been a 10 some days.”

Ledbetter recalled having painful cramps accompanied by diarrhea, prompting her to be rushed to the emergency room after her symptoms lasted nearly two weeks.

She initially expressed reluctance to see a doctor because of her persistent pain, but her incurable fatigue and incessant pain led her to seek help.

After the widespread outbreak, more than 100 people filed lawsuits against the LongHorn location, attorney Jory Lange said First warning 4.

The St. Clair County Health Department and the Illinois Department of Public Health continue to investigate a possible outbreak of Shigella, which they believe originated from the steakhouse.

Shigellosis is an infectious disease caused by a group of bacteria called Shigella.

“Once shigella gets into a restaurant like this, the disease can spread very quickly,” Lange said, adding that he has already filed three lawsuits in St. Clair County.

To help determine the cause of the problem, a survey was sent to several people who ate at the steakhouse between September 20 and October 2, asking them to answer questions about when they had eaten at the popular chain and what they ate.

“We’ve spoken to several people who have eaten there,” Lange said. ‘We don’t see one specific food product. We see the whole menu.’

Following the widespread outbreak, more than 100 people filed lawsuits against the LongHorn location, attorney Jory Lange (pictured) told FirstAlert4

The investigation is ongoing and the Fairview Heights location is closed due to the outbreak

Lange, a personal injury attorney, added that the Shigella bacteria could have come from a restaurant employee not washing their hands properly, including possibly having feces on their hands and then spreading the germs.

A Shigella infection causes fever and diarrhea, which can become bloody.

The health department said that “symptoms appear one to two days after contact with the bacteria” and “symptoms typically last five to seven days, but some people may experience symptoms lasting from a few days to several weeks.”

People with fever, bloody or prolonged diarrhea, severe stomach cramps, or dehydration are encouraged to seek medical attention.

Ledbetter said she has gotten a prescription and is finally starting to feel better.

The exact cause of the pervasive illnesses remains unknown, but health department researchers believe the outbreak may be linked to one specific contaminated ingredient.

The investigation is ongoing and the Fairview Heights location is closed due to the outbreak.

Daily Mail has contacted LongHorn Steakhouse for comment.