Contagious: Shigellosis

Contagion summary: Most Shigella infections are the result of the bacterium passing from stools or soiled fingers of one person to the mouth of another person.¹

spread can easily occur by the fecal-oral route and occurs in areas where hygiene are poor. Epidemics may be foodborne or waterborne. Shigella can also be transmitted by flies.²

Contagion discussion: Some common diseases are occasionally foodborne, even though they are usually transmitted by other routes.  These include infections caused by Shigella, hepatitis A, and the parasites Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidia.  Even strep throats have been transmitted occasionally through food.  ³

The Shigella bacteria pass from one infected person to the next. Shigella are present in the diarrheal stools of infected persons while they are sick and for a week or two afterwards. Most Shigella infections are the result of the bacterium passing from stools or soiled fingers of one person to the mouth of another person. This happens when basic hygiene and handwashing habits are inadequate. It is particularly likely to occur among toddlers who are not fully toilet-trained. Family members and playmates of such children are at high risk of becoming infected.

Shigella infections may be acquired from eating contaminated food. Contaminated food may look and smell normal. Food may become contaminated by infected food handlers who forget to wash their hands with soap after using the bathroom. Vegetables can become contaminated if they are harvested from a field with sewage in it. Flies can breed in infected feces and then contaminate food. Shigella infections can also be acquired by drinking or swimming in contaminated water. Water may become contaminated if sewage runs into it, or if someone with shigellosis swims in it. ¹

While outbreaks have occurred in primate colonies, the only significant carriers are people. Shigella organisms are generally transmitted via the fecal-oral route. Like EHEC, the infectious human dose can be as few as 10 organisms. Infected food workers can cause outbreaks in eating establishments. ⁴

Footnotes:
1. excerpt from Shigellosis (General): DBMD
2. excerpt from Shigellosis: DBMD
3. excerpt from Foodborne Infections General: DBMD
4. excerpt from Foodborne Diseases, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID

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