March 1, 2006
The Courier-Journal (KY)
Louisville is seeing a significant rise in shigellosis cases since August 2005, especially in schools and day-care centers, health department officials said.
There have been 107 cases in the past seven months, compared with eight cases for the same period in 2004-05, officials said in a press release.
Shigellosis is a highly contagious bacterial disease with symptoms that include diarrhea, fever, nausea, abdominal cramping and vomiting. In severe cases there may be blood or mucus in the stool.
The most effective way to prevent the spread of shigellosis is to wash your hands, officials said.
In 1996, a major shigellosis outbreak resulted in 1,030 cases in Louisville.