REPORT THIS DISEASE TO COBB & DOUGLAS PUBLIC HEALTH
AT: 770-514-2432

For additional reporting options, please click here.

WHAT IS IT?

Shigellosis is a bacterial infection that affects the intestinal tract. Shigella causes about 500,000 foodborne illnesses in the United States each year. Shigella is very contagious; transmission of Shigella occurs when people put something in their mouths or swallow something that has been exposed to contaminated feces. This can happen when:

  • Contaminated hands touch food or your mouth.
  • Swallowing contaminated drinking water or recreational water (lakes and rivers).
  • Flies can breed in infected feces and then contaminate food when they land on it.
  • Exposure to feces through sexual contact

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

  • Diarrhea (Watery, maybe bloody)
  • Fever
  • Abdominal cramps
  • Painful sensation of needing to pass stools even when bowels are empty.
  • Malaise