Shigella outbreak at Lakeland sickens patients, staff

An outbreak of shigella has caused sickness in four patients and three employees at Lakeland Behavioral Health.

The contagious illness can cause bloody diarrhea for as long as four weeks.

"The best thing you can do is personal hygiene. Washing hands often with soap and water is the number one thing for patients and employees," said Kendra Findley, administrator of community health and epidemiology for the Springfield-Greene County Health Department. "Then disinfect common surfaces within the workplace environment and patient environment."

Lakeland, 440 S. Market Ave., provides psychiatric services to children and seniors.

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