WSAV reported on a Shigella outbreak in Effingham, Georgia, on Friday:

A number of Effingham County students are suffering from a bacterial infection in their digestive systems.

Health officials in the Coastal District say it is common to find shigellosis infections this time of year, but they are seeing a larger number of cases in the last couple of weeks.

Health officials are encouraging people to use proper handwashing techniques to prevent the spread of illness.  Shigellosis, the illness caused by ingestion of the Shigella bacterium, causes nausea, abdominal cramping, and diarrhea.