Shigella
Last content update: 10/3/24
The Public Health Department responded to a significant outbreak of Shigella among individuals experiencing homelessness in Santa Clara County in summer 2024.
The Department continues to monitor the situation and provides related recommendations for service providers conducting outreach or service delivery with people experiencing homelessness or in encampments.
What is Shigella?
Shigella are bacteria (germs) that cause diarrhea. Shigella bacteria cause an infection called shigellosis.
How is Shigella spread?
Shigella germs are in poop, so anything that gets contaminated by poop can potentially spread the germs.
You can get exposed to Shigella germs from:
- Having direct contact with someone infected with Shigella (for example, having sex with them).
- Eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with Shigella.
- Touching objects that are contaminated with Shigella and then putting your unwashed hands in your mouth.
Shigella spreads easily – swallowing just a small amount of Shigella germs can make you sick.
What are the symptoms of Shigella infection?
Symptoms of Shigella infection (shigellosis) are diarrhea that can be bloody or prolonged (lasting more than 3 days), fever, stomach pain, and feeling the need to poop even when the bowels are empty. Symptoms usually last about 7 days.
How soon after exposure to Shigella will symptoms appear?
Symptoms usually begin 1 to 7 days after exposure to Shigella germs.
What is the treatment for Shigella infection?
A person with Shigella infection (shigellosis) should drink plenty of fluids to replace fluids lost from diarrhea and prevent dehydration. This is especially important for people who are very young, very old, or immunocompromised. A healthcare provider may also prescribe antibiotic medicine to treat shigellosis.
If you think you or someone you are caring for is becoming severely dehydrated, contact a healthcare provider or go to the nearest emergency room.
Need a doctor or health insurance? Call the County's Patient Access Department at 1 (866) 967-4677 or drop in at 770 S. Bascom Ave. San Jose, CA 95128.
How can you help prevent the spread of Shigella?
If you think you have Shigella infection, clean your hands and surfaces you touch often while you have diarrhea and for several weeks after.
- Hand washing with soap and water is the most important way to prevent the spread of Shigella. While washing hands with soap and water is preferred, if these are not available, use hand sanitizer.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces or linens that are touched often or have been near diarrhea.
- Throw out any food items that have been near diarrhea. Follow food safety practices and wash fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly.
- Do not have sex until diarrhea has been gone for 2 weeks. Shigella germs can be found in poop for several weeks after the diarrhea has gone away. When you start having sex again, wash your hands, body, and sex toys before and after and use barriers such as condoms or dental dams. For more information, see our Shigella and safer sex flyer (English | Spanish).
- Stay home from work or school if you have diarrhea and are a food, healthcare, or childcare worker.
Additional resources
- Shigellosis Fact Sheet - English | Spanish | Vietnamese
- Shigella Cleaning and Disinfecting Guidelines - English | Spanish
- Shigella and Safer Sex Flyer - English | Spanish
- About Shigella Infection (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Preventing Shigella Infection Among Sexually Active People (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- 6/24/24 County of Santa Clara Public Health Department Press Statement - English | Spanish
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