Shigella Cases Increase In Area

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Columbus Public Health officials are increasing the education on a bacteria spreading in the Central Ohio area. 

Shigella spreads from person to person through fecal-oral contact. 

Shigella causes a wide range of symptoms from diarrhea, cramping, vomiting and nausea to more serious complications and illnesses.

“We have moved some of our staff to focus on shigella, look at outreach in the community,“ said Dr. Mysheika Lemaile-Williams, of Columbus Public Health.

This once was thought of as a daycare concern, the health department says more and more, the problems start at home.

The number of confirmed cases in this area jumped from ten to more than 500 in one year. 

The only solution: clean, clean, clean.  That means handwashing and disinfecting. 

The health department is going into the community, sending out packets, all to get people thinking and staying healthy.

For more information on Shigella, visit: http://www.publichealth.columbus.gov/health_topics/health_topic_96.asp.

Below is the number of Shigella cases reported to Columbus and Franklin County by Zip Code:

NOTE: Data covers June 2008 to April 15, 2009