Health and Fitness : Benton County Public Health Announcement - Shigellosis Cluster in Linn County

Melissa Smith, Virginia Gay Hospital’s Director of Public Health and Home Health, urges Benton County residents to be especially cautious of becoming infected with the Shigella bacteria (Shigellosis) recently striking Linn County according to the Linn County public health officials and as reported by KCRG.

“Even before the reported infections in Linn County, our state was reporting triple the number of cases compared to last year,” explains Melissa. “The State Epidemiologists office stresses how important it is that infected individuals to stay home and avoid contact with others. Food workers and child care workers need to receive two negative stool tests for the bacteria at least 24 hours apart, and not more than 48 hours after antibiotics have stopped,” she added.

“I can’t stress enough how important it is to wash hands carefully after changing diapers, using the bathroom, or touching animals. This is also the time when people are swimming in lakes and rivers and that can be a source of infection as well. It takes only a little of the bacteria to cause some pretty miserable symptoms,” she said.

Shigella is a bacteria causing very unpleasant diarrhea. Signs and symptoms of infection (Shigellosis) usually begin a day or two after contact with shigella. Signs and symptoms may include:

• Diarrhea (often containing blood or mucus)

• Abdominal cramps

• Fever

When to see your family health care provider:

Contact your health care provider if you or your child has bloody diarrhea or diarrhea severe enough to cause weight loss and dehydration. Also, contact your doctor if you or your child has diarrhea and a fever of 101 F (38 C) or higher.

Shigella can be passed through direct contact with the bacteria in feces. For example, this can happen in a child care setting when staff members don't wash their hands well enough after changing diapers or helping toddlers with toilet training. Shigella bacteria also can be passed in contaminated food or by drinking or swimming in contaminated water.

Children between the ages of 2 and 4 are most likely to get shigella infection. A mild case usually clears up on its own within a week. When treatment is needed, antibiotics are generally prescribed.

Infection occurs when shigella bacteria are accidentally swallowed. This can happen when you:

Touch your mouth. If you don't wash your hands well after changing the diaper of a child who has shigella infection, you may become infected yourself. Direct person-to-person contact is the most common way the disease is spread.

Eat contaminated food. Infected people who handle food can transmit the bacteria to people who eat the food. Food can also become contaminated if it grows in a field that contains sewage as happens when septic system waste is discharged on crop land.

Swallow contaminated water. Water may become contaminated either from sewage or from a person with shigella infection swimming in it.

All health and health-related information contained within this post or article is intended to be general in nature and should not be used as a substitute for a consultation with a health care professional. The information is intended to offer only a general basis for individuals to discuss medical conditions with their health care provider. Your health care provider should be consulted regarding matters concerning the medical condition, treatment and needs of you and your family.

Although every effort is made to ensure that the material is accurate and timely, it is provided for the convenience of the recipient and should not be considered medically sound for particular individuals experiencing specific symptoms or conditions. Readers are advised to refer to and rely upon their health care provider when making significant decisions, including decisions related to diagnosis and treatment.