Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Our Blog,Outbreaks & Recalls on July 22, 2025
There is a Muhlenberg County Giardia outbreak!
Kentucky Public Health, Hopkins County Health Department, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are currently investigating a Giardia outbreak spreading in Western Kentucky.
What do you need to know about the Muhlenberg County Giardia outbreak? What should you do if you get sick? When should you call a Giardia lawyer?
Follow along for this, and more as we discuss the Muhlenberg County Giardia outbreak.
As of July 21, 2025, there have been a total of 66 laboratory-confirmed cases of Giardia in Muhlenberg, Webster, and Hopkins Counties since May 2025.
This statistic only includes those cases that have been confirmed through specialized laboratory testing and reported to the state health department. There are likely significantly more cases unaccounted for.
“The number of people who are sick is likely higher than that,” says Jory Lange, Giardia Attorney with The Lange Law Firm.
That being said, 66 is still a significant number. Especially when you consider that the entire state of Kentucky only receives between 100 and 300 reports of Giardia infections for the entire year most years.
This Giardia outbreak involves the microscopic parasite. One that can be foodborne (from infected food workers), waterborne (from contaminated water supply, including municipal water systems), or from the environment.
According to the CDC, Giardia infections are one of the most common causes of waterborne disease in the United States.
You can become infected with Giardia in several different ways. From swallowing contaminated water, from eating contaminated food, as well as person-to-person contact or from an infected food handler.
This Muhlenberg County Giardia outbreak has been strongly associated with a Madisonville Mexican-food style restaurant. Potentially from contaminated food or infected food handler. Over half of those sick with Giardia report eating at the same restaurant. El Tapatio Mexican Cantina.
But outbreak investigators are working to uncover all potential sources.
Swallowing contaminated water is one of the most common ways to become infected with Giardia parasites.
Whether from agricultural runoff, animal feces, or contamination with wastewater, ground and surface water have many opportunities for contamination. Even pools and spas are vulnerable. Either from animal contamination, children in diapers, or infected people with diarrhea.
When drinking water becomes contaminated with these types of water, people may get sick.
You can become infected by eating contaminated food.
Food can become contaminated by food handlers infected with the parasite when they do not wash their hands thoroughly. Contamination may also happen if raw produce is irrigated or washed with contaminated water.
Fortunately, cooking kills Giardia parasites. But certain leafy greens like lettuce and cilantro do not undergo that kind of heat treatment. Neither does water. Unless a boil water ordinance is in place. So water is often a Giardia source more so than food. With certain exceptions.
Since Giardia is transmitted through cysts passing through the digestive system and into an infected person’s feces, person-to-person contact can spread infection. Especially if the infected person does not properly wash their hands after using the restroom.
Hand washing is the most effective way to prevent spreading foodborne illness.
Food handlers are the source of most foodborne restaurant outbreaks. It is unclear whether an infected food handler caused the Muhlenberg County Giardia outbreak, but with most outbreak patients reporting they ate at a specific restaurant, investigators are likely looking into that as a source. When an infected food handler does not properly wash their hands after using the restroom and proceeds to handle countless dishes over the infectious period, it can cause quite a large outbreak.
If you believe you may be exposed to this Muhlnberg County Giardia outbreak, monitor yourself for the following symptoms.
Diarrhea is often the first symptom of a Giardia infection. This can happen 2 to 5 times per day. Many sick people report feeling more tired than usual.
Short-term symptoms may include:
Giardia symptoms often start 1 to 2 weeks after becoming infected with Giardia parasites. Even as long as 3 weeks!
These symptoms generally last for 2 to 6 weeks.
Around 1 in 3 people with Giardia infection experience long-term symptoms that can last for years.
Long-term complications may include:
If you become sick from this Muhlenberg County Giardia outbreak, there are a few things you should do to help prevent spreading the illness.
If you have become sick from this Muhlenberg County Giardia outbreak, you may need medical attention. Contact your healthcare provider for advice. Prompt treatment can help improve your recovery outcome.
If you are infected with Giardia, you may still shed Giardia cysts for 24 hours after your symptoms have subsided. Do not report to work. Especially if you work in day care, childcare, or food service industries.
If you are still having diarrhea from Giardia illness, avoid recreational water activities. You can easily spread your illness to others by sharing a pool, hot tub, or splash pad. Wait at least 24 hours after diarrheal symptoms have resolved.
If you have become sick from this Muhlenberg County Giardia Outbreak, you may be wondering if or when you should call a Giardia Lawyer.
If you become seriously ill, you likely have medical bills, lost time and money from work, and experienced other burdens associated with your illness. A lawsuit can compensate those impacted by the outbreak and hold those responsible accountable. Something that not only helps take care of your urgent needs, but also potentially helps those liable make better decisions for food safety.
“By holding the restaurant accountable, we hope to make this restaurant do better, make our food safer so that this doesn’t happen to other people down the road,” says Lange.
In this case, Lange says that each lawsuit will be filed on their own. He says that clients get the best results by treating them individually.
If you have fallen ill in this Muhlenberg County Giardia outbreak, reach out to a Giardia Food Poisoning Lawyer as soon as you feel able to.
But don’t wait too long.
An experienced Giardia Lawyer can help you receive the best care, obtain the necessary reports, and help investigate the source of your illness. Time sensitive objectives.
The Lange Law Firm, PLLC has successfully represented families with cases just like yours win millions of dollars in food contamination and product liability claims. They can help you too.
Call (833) 330-3663 today for a free, no obligation consultation. Or fill out the online submission form and a compassionate member of The Lange Law Firm team will reach out.
Don’t wait! Call today!
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)