NEW Shigella Outbreak!

HEALTH ALERT! A new strain of Shigella (which is resistant to some antibiotics) has been identified and is circulating among men who have sex with men. Click on the link below to see information about symptoms and if you have any concerns contact your GP or local sexual health service as soon as you can. Shigella is a serious gut infection causing severe, prolonged diarrhoea and stomach cramps. Among gay and bisexual men, Shigella is usually passed on through the faecal-oral route during sex, either directly or via unwashed hands – only a tiny amount of bacteria can spread the infection. Symptoms often develop around 1-3 days after sex, including: Frequent and explosive diarrhoea lasting more than 48 hours, Stomach cramps, Feeling feverish with flu like symptoms, Some people report vomiting, Feeling weak and tired (accompanying the gastrointestinal symptoms). Men experiencing Shigella symptoms are advised to visit their GP or a sexual health clinic, specifically mentioning Shigella and requesting a stool sample test. The infection is treatable with antibiotics. For more information check out our STI page or the THT Shigella page.