Sydney kebabs hospitalise four people January 17, 2014 - 11:37PM A health alert has been issued to people who have eaten kebabs at a southern Sydney shop, after four people were hospitalised with a rare bacterial gastroenteritis. NSW Health said the patients became sick from the Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC) in the Sutherland area on Thursday. It was revealed that all four had eaten food from Kenny's Kebabs at Westfield Miranda between January 4 and 8. NSW Food Authority officials went to the shop on Friday and found a number of concerns associated with food handling and preparation. As a result, a prohibition order was served, stopping the business from trading until further notice. Director of South Eastern Sydney Public Heath Unit Professor Mark Ferson said it was important that any customers of the kebab shop be aware of the risks as it was likely that there will be more cases. He said symptoms of STEC infection include diarrhoea that may have blood in it, abdominal cramps and nausea and vomiting. Symptoms can last five to 10 days. Symptoms can be severe in children, the elderly and people with reduced immunity," Professor Ferson said in a statement. STEC can be carried by animals such as cattle. People are infected when they come into contact with the faeces of an infected animal or person, either directly or indirectly.