By admin 
State health officials have reported 71 cases of shigellosis — a sexually transmitted and drug-resistant disease — in Kansas so far this year.
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This is the highest annual number of cases that have been reported within the state since at least 2020, the Kansas reportable infectious disease dashboard shows.
Shigellosis made national news this week after reports of rising cases in several states.
Nationally, though, 14,291 cases of shigellosis have been reported this year, down slightly from the 14,645 cases that were reported by this time last year, according to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What is shigellosis?
Shigellosis is an infection caused by Shigella bacteria.
People become infected by the bacteria by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. You can also develop shigellosis by close contact or sexual activity with someone who has been sick with a Shigella infection.
“Shigella spreads easily; swallowing just a small amount of Shigella germs can make you sick,” the CDC said. “Shigella germs are in poop, so anything that gets contaminated by poop can potentially spread the germs.”
Federal health officials believe Shigella cause about 450,000 infections in the U.S. every year, and drug-resistant infections lead to an estimated $93 million in medical costs.
Where has shigellosis been reported in Kansas?
The Kansas counties with the highest recorded cases of shigellosis this year include Sedgwick (27 cases) and Johnson (20 cases).
Regionally, the south-central region has reported 33 cases and the Kansas City metropolitan area has reported 23 cases, as of an Oct. 7 update. Northeast Kansas has reported 9 cases.
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Most cases in Kansas, 42, were reported in males. The cases have been reported in all age groups, from 0 to 4 years old to 85 and up.
One case has been reported in October, and five were reported in September. Health officials reported 15 cases in July, the highest month so far this year.
What are the symptoms of shigellosis?
Symptoms of shigellosis include diarrhea, fever, stomach pain and feeling the need to pass stool even when your bowels are empty, according to the CDC. Diarrhea may be bloody or last more than three days.
Symptoms usually start within a day or two of becoming infected. The symptoms usually last about a week, but for some people, they can last more than a month.
Others may never develop any symptoms.
How is shigellosis treated?
Most people with shigellosis will get better without antibiotic treatments, health officials said.
People with severe cases may need antibiotics; however, some strains of shigellosis can be drug resistant.
The CDC says you should see a doctor if you have bloody or prolonged diarrhea, severe stomach cramps or a fever.
Can I prevent shigellosis?
The best way to prevent shigellosis is to avoid contact with Shigella bacteria. Health officials recommend the following precautions:
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- Wash hands with soap and water before eating and before sexual activity. Also wash your hands after using the bathroom.
- Be careful when changing diapers.
- Don’t swallow water when swimming.
- Follow safe food and water habits, especially when traveling internationally.
- Do not have sex with someone who has had shigellosis for at least two weeks after they had diarrhea.