Eight cases of infection by Shigella bacteria confirmed in Spain

ECDC confirms Spain already has eight cases of Shigella bacteria infection

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has confirmed that there are currently eight cases of infections by the Shigella sonnei bacteria in Spain. They are also studying another possible 22 cases of shigellosis.

These eight cases in Spain correspond to men aged between 18 and 56 years, and their disease is linked to an outbreak that emerged in the United Kingdom that has already affected 208 patients in ten European countries.

Shigella sonnei is a bacterium that infects the digestive system and can cause diarrhoea. The incubation period varies from case to case, and can range from 6 hours to 9 days. It has symptoms similar to gastroenteritis but is more contagious. The disease is more common in developing countries and is transmitted by the fecal-oral route.

The ECDC underlines that this outbreak has spread among men who have had sex with other men, and links it to risky sexual practices. They warn that there is a “high” possibility that there may be more infections in Europe in the coming months, once the restrictions put in place to curb Covid-19 are lifted and contacts and travel increase.

In addition, the entity warns that the bacteria is resistant to treatment. The European body explains that the disease usually has mild symptoms, except in immunosuppressed people, as reported by laverdad.es.

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