Key facts

Shigella are bacteria that cause diarrhoea

Shigella infection, also called shigellosis, is very contagious.

It spreads easily through contaminated food, water, surfaces or objects, and from person to person.

The infection can also be spread through sexual activity

Infection is usually treated with fluids and rest, but sometimes antibiotics are necessary

Some strains of bacteria have become resistant to the drugs used to treat them.

Overview

Shigella bacteria cause an infection of the bowel known as shigellosis, which results in diarrhoea. There are four main species: Shigella sonnei , Shigella flexneri , Shigella boydii , and Shigella dysenteriae . Shigella is a major cause of moderate to severe diarrhoea globally, with an estimated 80-165 million cases each year, mostly in low or middle-income countries.…