Public health alert in US: CDC warns of a rise in Shigella infections that cause diarrhea

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US has issued a public health alert across the country, warning citizens of shigella infections. In an April 9 report, federal health officials stated they found the infections, known to cause cases of diarrhea to be on a rise, with cases having jumped 8.5% from 2011 to 2023.

Officials called the increase a "public health threat" since the strain is drug-resistant and has no Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved oral treatment. "Strengthened surveillance, timely reporting and targeted prevention strategies are needed to limit transmission of XDR (extensively drug-resistant) Shigella strains," the report noted.

What are Shigella infections?

Shigella is a type of bacteria known to cause an infection called Shigellosis.

It causes an estimated 450,000 infections in the US annually, with antimicrobial-resistant infections causing a $93 million in direct medical costs, as per the CDC.

What are the symptoms of Shigella infections?

Symptoms of the infection typically start within one to two days and last seven days. Most infected patients experience:

How do Shigella infections spread?

Shigella spreads easily through faecal-oral transmission, sexual contact or contaminated food, water, surfaces and objects.

Children under the age of 5, travellers, gay and bisexual men, and the homeless are at a heightened risk of contracting Shigella infections along with people of all ages. However, data from 2016 to 2023 in the report showed cases of the infections were predominant in non-Hispanic White men.

How to prevent contracting Shigella infections?

As per the CDC, certain steps are vital in order to prevent the transmission of the infection:

How are Shigella infections treated?

Patients with Shigella infections typically improve in health without antibiotic treatment within a period of five to seven days. Keeping hydrated in case of diarrhea is advised.