Party hall in Beernem closed after new infections with intestinal infection

Over the past two weekends, people have become infected with shigellosis after a meeting in the Zandberghoeve banquet hall in Beernem. To protect consumers, a temporary closure of the entire establishment is imposed as a precaution. The FASFC also requires the entire building to be cleaned by an external company and takes samples of the working environment. The Department of Care is expanding the examination of stool samples to all staff members.

Joris Moonens, spokesperson for the Department of Healthcare: “Initially, the infections seemed to be limited within one group of about 50 people who were present at a party in the Zandberghoeve on the weekend of September 2. In other groups that were present in other rooms of the Zandberghoeve that weekend, no sick people were reported after active follow-up by the Department of Care.

But now we see 6 people in a group of 8 people who visited the Zandberghoeve restaurant last Saturday with symptoms of a shigella infection. This diagnosis has already been confirmed with certainty in 1 person. There may also be cases of illness in other groups from last weekend. This indicates that there is a source of contamination within the Zandberghoeve. This could be a person, a contaminated object or food item.”

Hélène Bonte, spokesperson for the FASFC: “In collaboration with the Department of Care, we are investigating the possible source of the contamination. In this context, our inspectors have taken food samples and swabs from the area. So far, the FASFC and the Department of Care have not been able to draw a conclusion. To protect consumers, we are therefore forced to close the entire Zandberghoeve temporarily and as a precaution. The operator must have his entire location disinfected by a professional cleaning company.”

The Department of Care continues its parallel investigation into possible infections among staff. After the first series of infections, stool samples had already been taken from staff members who had served that group. The examination of these samples by the national reference laboratory and Sciensano is ongoing. Various stool samples will now be taken from all staff members. Only when they demonstrate that staff members are not infected can they return to work. The Department of Care will also ask staff and guests about points of contact and common contact between the groups where cases of illness appear.

Based on the results of the environmental samples and the staff samples, and after the external cleaning of the location has taken place, the FASFC will, in consultation with the Department of Care, evaluate when the Zandberghoeve can open again to the public.

Shigellosis

Shigellosis is caused by infection with a Shigella bacterium. Contamination occurs from person to person when an infected person, after insufficient hand hygiene, applies the bacteria to surfaces (toilets, handles, cutlery, etc.) through the stool or passes it on to other people through their hands. The bacteria can also be passed on through food, if the person responsible for the food is infected and contaminates the food through their hands. Sexual (oro-anal) contact can also lead to infection.

Symptoms include fever, abdominal pain, possibly vomiting, watery and sometimes bloody or mucous diarrhea. Shigellosis can be serious and cause complications such as dehydration, serious intestinal disorders and in rare cases blood poisoning (sepsis). Shigellosis is severe but usually heals spontaneously (without antibiotics) after 5 to 10 days. Sometimes a person can be infected without showing any symptoms, or remain a carrier of the bacteria. These people can also pass the infection on to other people, for example when preparing food.

Shigellosis occurs sporadically in Flanders with around two hundred reported cases per year. The reported infections mainly occur among travelers to endemic zones, family members of infected persons (especially young children) and MSM.