
U.S. Faces Growing Threat from Drug-Resistant Shigella, CDC Warns
CDC warns of a rise in extensively drug-resistant Shigella infections in the United States—from 0% resistance in 2011 to 8.5% in 2023—with about a third of patients hospitalized; Shigella spreads easily via contaminated water, food, surfaces, or person-to-person contact and causes shigellosis with diarrhea (often bloody), fever, and stomach pain 1–2 days after exposure, lasting about a week. Most mild cases improve with fluids and rest, but serious cases may require antibiotics, though there is not an approved treatment for shigellosis in the U.S. Populations at higher risk include children under 5, travelers, men who have sex with men, and people experiencing homelessness.












