How does shigellosis spread?
Shigellosis is very infectious and spreads easily. Because the bacteria are in the stool of an infected person, infection occurs when tiny bits of infected stool get in another person’s mouth, food or water. Here are the most common ways that shigellosis spreads: Being exposed to infected stool or objects contaminated with stool • Commonly in day care centres if you do not wash your hands often when you are touching children and changing diapers. Contaminated food or water • When food is contaminated by infected handlers • When sanitation and hygiene are poor • In developing countries without proper drinking water treatment • Swimming at beaches with contaminated water Sexual contact • Through oral-anal (mouth to anus) contact (see HealthLink BC File #08n Shigella – an Enteric STI) • By getting stool onto your fingers and then touching your mouth • By putting food or objects that may have tiny bits of stool on them into your mouth How can you prevent shigellosis? Exposure to infected s
