According to press reports, the Escambia County Health Department has reminded the public that people can reduce the spread of gastrointestinal illnesses by practicing simple hygiene. “We like to be proactive about this, and we’ve started seeing cases of Shigella, or shigellosis, which is a bacterial illness that can produce nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and
Preventing the spread of shigellosis
After a person has recovered from shigellosis, Shigella bacteria remain active for a week or two. It is even possible for a person to be infected with Shigella without exhibiting symptoms. Individuals who exhibit no symptoms are known as asymptomatic, but can pass the illness on to others.
Small children acquire Shigella at the highest
Two Maplewood Elementary students from Ocala, Florida infected by Shigella
According to press reports, two Maplewood Elementary School children have been infected with shigellosis, the illness caused by Shigella infection. The Marion County Health Department contacted Maplewood officials on Wednesday, informing them that two students had contracted the illness; the school district launched an immediate review and response.
School district spokesman Kevin Christian said the bacteria
The reality is that raw milk is far more likely to make you ill than pasteurized milk
A new study published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) journal, Emerging Infectious Diseases, found that the rate of outbreaks caused by unpasteurized milk (raw milk) and unpasteurized milk products was 150 times greater than outbreaks linked to pasteurized milk. In addition, the study revealed that states where raw milk sales
Sources of Shigella
Shigella bacteria cause human illness when they are ingested, and can lead to Shigella infection, or shigellosis, through various modes of transmission, including through food and water sources, animal-to-human contact, and person-to-person contact in daycares and other settings.
Improper sanitation and cross-contamination can be contributing factors to Shigella outbreaks associated with restaurant food.
The introduction