The Centers for Disease Control warns of a highly contagious intestinal disease

The Centers for Disease Control warns of a highly contagious intestinal disease.

Health officials in the United States have warned the population about rising cases of highly contagious, antibiotic-resistant intestinal infections.

Shigellosis, an infection caused by the shigella bacteria, is an acute stomach disease that attacks the intestines and causes inflammatory diarrhea and stomach pain.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory on Friday warning of increased Shigella infections. Since 2015, officials have noticed a rise in cases linked to a drug-resistant strain of the disease called XDR.

The CDC estimates about 450,000 cases of shigellosis in the United States each year. In Canada, 880 cases of shigellosis are reported annually. Recently, residents of inner-city Edmonton experienced an outbreak, with AHS confirming 206 diagnoses of Shigella.

What is shigellosis (Shigella)?

Shigellosis is an acute intestinal infection caused by a bacterium called Shigella. Shigellosis has many symptoms, including fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, stomach cramps, and diarrhea (watery and often bloody).

According to Health Canada, most symptoms resolve within 5 to 7 days. However, it may take several weeks to months before your bowel habits return to normal. In addition, some may experience long-term symptoms, such as Reiter's syndrome. These symptoms usually appear 3 to 4 weeks after you start feeling sick.

What causes shigellosis (Shigella)?

Shigella bacteria are found in the intestines of humans. Shigellosis, the disease, is highly contagious and can be transmitted in several ways, including consuming contaminated food and liquids, touching contaminated surfaces, and swimming in contaminated recreational waters. Person-to-person contact with an infected person, including sexual contact, is another transmission route.

Risk of Shigellosis

You can be exposed to Shigella if you come into contact with infected feces, don't practice proper hand washing, or if those around you have poor hygiene habits.

Health Canada recommends washing your hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and handling raw foods, washing fresh fruits and vegetables before eating them, and cleaning work surfaces before and after preparing foods.

Historically, shigellosis has affected young children (ages 1 to 4 years) in the United States. Recently, the CDC has noted an increase in antimicrobial-resistant strains in the adult population, especially among homeless people, people living with HIV, international travelers, and men who have sex with men.

Antimicrobial-resistant Shigella infection

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 242,000 antimicrobial-resistant Shigella infections occur annually in the United States.

Antimicrobial resistance arises when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change over time and no longer respond to conventional medications. When bacteria are resistant to drugs, they are more difficult to treat and may become more transmissible.

How to prevent shigellosis

Contaminated foods and drinks look, smell, and taste normal, so preventing illnesses associated with Shigella can be difficult. To reduce your risk of contracting shigellosis, Health Canada recommends adopting the following:

Follow food safety practices.

Wash your hands often and thoroughly.

Wash raw fruits and vegetables before eating them.

Drink water from a safe source.

Avoid sexual activity with those who have diarrhea or have recently recovered.

If you have shigellosis or another infectious disease that causes diarrhea, do not prepare food or pour water on other people.