The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States has issued a “serious public health” alert regarding a national increase in a bacterial stomach infection known as shigellosis.
The Midwest is currently the most affected region in the country, with a rate of 19.48% positive tests as of February 4. This number already surpasses last year’s recorded rate of 16.12% at the end of the season, around early April.
Caused by bacteria of the genus Shigella, the highly contagious infection attacks the intestines and causes diarrhea, sometimes with blood, according to the CDC.
Children under 5 years old—along with those in daycare and schools, as well as tourists in places “where water and food may not be safe and sanitation is poor”—are at additional risk of contracting shigellosis.
There are approximately 450,000 shigellosis infections each year in the U.S. According to the CDC, of that total, 5% of cases reported in 2022 involved bacteria that are extremely resistant to medications. In 2015, the number of cases of antibiotic-resistant infections was zero.
If the antibiotics typically used to treat shigellosis do not work, it becomes more difficult to treat the disease, and it ends up becoming a serious public health threat.
What are the symptoms of shigellosis?
The bacteria cause diarrhea, which may contain blood, as well as fever and stomach pain. Symptoms usually begin one or two days after infection and last about a week.
What is the treatment for shigellosis?
Many people do not need antibiotics to recover from mild cases. Most will only need fluids to stay hydrated.
However, antibiotics may be necessary in the following situations:
– To shorten the duration of the illness to about two days
– To reduce transmission during outbreaks or in institutional settings
– For infected food handlers to prevent foodborne outbreaks
– For people with compromised immune systems or those taking immunosuppressive medications, such as individuals with HIV
How is the bacteria transmitted?
Through direct contact with an infected person (this contact can be through sexual relations) or indirectly through contaminated food and water.
Source: CDC