United States: Bacterial infection cases about 227 cases were reported in the Portland metro area. An antibiotic-resistant Shigella cluster found in the Portland metro area this winter is being tracked by Public health officials.
In 2023, about 227 cases have been reported in the tri-county area, 45 of which were documented in December alone.
More about Shigella
It is a bacterial infection that causes inflammatory diarrhea, cramps, and dehydration. It can easily be spread from one person to another.
One of its transmission methods involves ingestion of even a small amount of fecal matter.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the other most common forms of transmission are via sexual contact, changing diapers, or drinking contaminated water, Axios Portland News reported.
Sarah Dean, a spokesperson for Multnomah County told Axios said infections involving diarrhea often go unreported as “only 1 in 10 cases are actually tested and diagnosed.”
Where cases are found mostly
According to Axios Portland News, the largest clusters of the Shigella are found among those experiencing homelessness in Multnomah County. Despite earlier reports, Dean said there is “no clear geographic pattern to cases” to suggest the cluster is isolated to Old Town or downtown Portland.
As per the CDC, a cluster is defined as a particular health event with shared characteristics, while an outbreak is when the number of clusters is higher than what is expected for a specific group and time.
Since 2015, a rising number of Shigella has been reported among Portland’s homeless population and other high-risk groups.
According to the Dean’s statement, “Multnomah County is providing houseless individuals infected with Shigella vouchers for temporary housing “for access to shelter, water, and hygiene.”
Possible threat
As per the Axios Portland News reports, health officials issued the possible threat update regarding the Shigella bacteria. The risk to the general public is low although case clusters from individual strains can last from a few weeks to a few years.
One recent strain cluster lasted from November 2018 to March 2022, with 119 people affected. Health officials also added that the country will continue to monitor cases daily and prioritize communication with those at highest risk of infection.