KDHE Home - News 1999 - News Release
Kansas
Department of Health & Environment
Bill Graves, Governor
Clyde D. Graeber, Secretary
For Immediate Release
Contact: Sharon Watson, 785-296-1529
Shigellosis Remains a Concern in Parts of Kansas
Several counties in southern Kansas have experienced outbreaks of the bacterial infection, shigellosis, which draws attention to the need for proper hand washing. Shigellosis is one of the 12 most common infectious diseases preventable by effective hand washing.
In recent weeks, Ford, Cherokee and Pratt counties have all seen outbreaks of shigellosis. Cherokee County has reported eighteen culture-confirmed cases since September, with seven of them occurring in November and eight in December. In Pratt County, ten culture-confirmed cases were reported from October to November. Ford County had five culture-confirmed cases since October.
Other counties with a few cases or suspect cases include Haskell and Finney. However, these counties have not reached an outbreak level. Although the outbreaks in Pratt and Ford counties seem to be resolving, the situation in Cherokee County is more difficult to bring under control.
The state's Health and Environmental Laboratory tested the cultures from infected individuals in each of the outbreak locations. The tests indicated all of the cases in each community were related, however, there was not a link found between the separate outbreaks.
To stop the spread of this infection, it is imperative everyone wash their hands before and after certain activities.
"Shigellosis is most often spread when people do not adequately wash their hands after they go to the bathroom " said Dr. Tim Monroe, Deputy State Epidemiologist. "These people can then transmit the disease directly to other individuals or it can also be transferred through contaminated food or water."
Symptoms of shigellosis include bloody diarrhea, fever, nausea, and abdominal cramps. The illness usually lasts four to seven days. Its incubation period is 12 to 96 hours, but could be up to a week.
"Sometimes young children, especially toddlers, get their hands dirty with feces after they go to the bathroom, and because they tend to put their hands in their mouths and interact similarly with other toddlers, shigellosis spreads," Monroe stated.
Most of the cases recently observed in Kansas involve young children. The infection is sometimes then passed on to adults who come into contact with them, such as workers in daycares, pre-schools and grade schools.
Anyone who works with food preparation or patient care and has culture-confirmed shigellosis should not continue their work until two negative cultures are obtained at least 24 hours apart, and no sooner than 48 hours following discontinuation of antibiotics. Those with symptoms suggestive of shigellosis (such as diarrhea, especially if bloody) should refrain from handling food or caring for patients until they are without symptoms. Children with diarrhea should be removed from daycare and school until their diarrhea stops. And anyone involved with food preparation is also reminded not to touch any food with bare hands. This is a violation of the state food regulations, and can spread diseases.
The single most important way to prevent the spread of shigellosis is thorough hand washing with soap and warm running water. Disinfectant lotions and hand creams are not adequate substitutes. Good hand washing techniques include:
For more information on good hand washing practices, visit the KDHE home page at http://www.kdheks.gov/ and click on the "Did You Wash 'Em?" graphic.
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