Thanks Indie. If this is so serious that it requires surgery, I'd think that it'd be all over the news.
Thanks again!
Viral (gastro)enteritis used to be called "summer complaint" in pediatrics, very common. Even severe cases requiring surgery aren't all that uncommon. Usually it is traced back to specific foods, like this one with Roma tomatoes.
Moral: lots of germs in the summer, which breed faster due to warmth, wash your produce when you get it home from the store. Wash hands before eating. You can get it from fresh veggies at restaurants, very common.