Shigellosis is an acute intestinal infection caused by Shigella bacteria. It primarily affects young children, travelers, and individuals in areas with poor sanitation, leading to severe diarrhea.
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Shigellosis was first identified by Japanese microbiologist Kiyoshi Shiga in 1897, who isolated the bacterium *Shigella dysenteriae*. His discovery was crucial in understanding bacillary dysentery and developing public health interventions. This breakthrough significantly advanced the field of infectious disease microbiology.
Shigellosis spreads primarily through the fecal-oral route. This occurs when an infected person's stool, even in microscopic amounts, contaminates food, water, or surfaces, which are then ingested by another person. Direct person-to-person contact, contaminated food, and contaminated water are common transmission pathways.
Contagious Period: Varies by disease
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Gastroenterologist Dr. Joseph Salhab joins 'Fox & Friends' to examine a new study on the effects of pathogenic gut bacteria and tips for limiting exposure to harmful bacteria.
A drug-resistant bacterial infection has been on the rise in the U.S. in recent years, according to an alert from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Shigella, a gram-negative bacteria, causes a diarrheal illness called shigellosis. Drug-resistant incidences of the infection have "increased substantially
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This event envelope includes reports on Shigellosis clusters and outbreaks in India.
Source: BEACON - View Full Report
Sexually transmitted shigellosis among men who have sex with men in England remains elevated, with 2560 diagnoses in 2025, mainly in London, and surpassing pre-pandemic levels. The outbreak features high antimicrobial resistance, with over half of Shigella sonnei isolates resistant to all three first-line treatments, severely restricting options for serious cases and raising concerns about continued transmission within international sexual networks.
Source: BEACON - View Full Report
Shigellosis causes an estimated 450,000 cases annually in the US, primarily through fecal-oral transmission in settings like daycare centers, food preparation, among travelers or immunocompromised groups, and via person-to-person spread in high-risk populations such as men who have sex with men (MSM) and unhoused individuals. Globally, multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Shigella strains have surged in recent years, complicating treatment and driving calls for enhanced surveillance.
Source: BEACON - View Full Report
This event envelope contains reports on shigellosis in Europe and the US.
Source: BEACON - View Full Report
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View WHO Resources →Disease information on Virus Watcher is reviewed by our Chief Epidemiologist, a former CDC lead analyst for FluSight forecasting. Outbreak data is aggregated from verified sources including BEACON, ProMED, WHO, CDC, and 50+ national health agencies. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice.
Last reviewed: 2026-06-03
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