Sexually transmitted gut infection shigella a 'distinct public health threat' to UK, experts warn
Thursday 9 July 2026 02:26, UK
Shigella cases transmitted through sexual contact spread more than twice as fast in terms of distance as other strains of the infection and are becoming increasingly resistant to treatment, according to a study led by the University of Cambridge and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
Shigella, the bacteria behind dysentery, is most commonly found in faeces and contracted through contaminated food and causes diarrhoea, stomach cramps and fever.
Certain strains - specifically shigella sonnei and shigella flexneri - can be spread through sexual contact, primarily among gay and bisexual men.
UKHSA figures show that there were 2,560 cases of sexually transmitted shigella in England in 2025, up from 2,052 in 2023.
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https://news.sky.com/story/bluesky-13561827
About Shigella Infection
https://www.cdc.gov/shigella/about/index.html