Wyoming Shigella outbreak continues

Posted by Shigella Lawyer on December 22, 2006
The State of Wyoming Health Department issued a statement regarding the ongoing Shigella outbreak in Fremont County.  At least 78 people have become ill with Shigellosis as part of the outbreak, and health officials are encouraging residents to use preventive measures, such as hand washing, to avoid becoming ill.

According to the Wyoming Department of Health's statement:
Shigellosis is a bacterial disease that causes diarrhea, fever, stomach cramping and sometimes bloody stools. Preschool and elementary children have been most affected by this current outbreak with at least 16 local children hospitalized over the last few months. “The size and duration of this outbreak is rare for our state and it is certainly should be a serious concern,” said Kelly Weidenbach, surveillance epidemiologist with the Wyoming Department of Health.
More on the outbreak can be found here, at the Wyoming Department of Health Web Site.  To read more about Shigellosis and how to prevent it, visit www.about-shigella.com.


The science behind Shigella infections

Posted by Shigella Attorney on December 20, 2006

Researchers in France believe they have discovered how Shigella is able to cause human illness. According to an article in the Post Chronicle, written by the United Press International, and published at the Iowa State University Extension Food Safety News Web site: "Laurence Arbibe and colleagues at the Pasteur Institute in Paris found a protein produced by Shigella is injected into host cells and blocks production of immune signals required for preventing the infection."

The full text of the study will be available in the January issue of the journal Nature Immunology.