Reportable Infectious Diseases Reference Manual (RIDRM)

Shigellosis

Shigellosis is a diarrheal illness caused by a group of bacteria called Shigella. Shigella can be found in the stool of infected people when they're symptomatic, and up to a couple weeks after diarrhea has ended. Infection can occur by not washing hands, eating foods prepared by a person sick with Shigella, swallowing contaminated water from a lake or river, and exposure to infected stool during sexual contact.

About Shigellosis

Actions Required and Control Measures

Reporting Requirements - Category 2

Shigellosis is physician reportable by mail within 12 hours of recognition or strong suspicion to both the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) and the local health department (LHD). The director of any clinical laboratory must also report laboratory evidence of Shigella to both the DPH and the LHD.

Additional laboratory requirements: Isolates of Shigella must be submitted to the DPH State Public Health Laboratory for confirmation and should include the serogroup/species. To assure you have the most up-to-date information concerning reportable diseases, please visit the Reporting of Diseases, Emergency Illnesses, Health Conditions, and Laboratory Findings page.

National Surveillance Case Definitions

Case Investigation

LHD Responsibility: If the case is in a high-risk occupation or setting, the LHD will implement control measures. DPH is available for consultation as needed.

DPH Responsibility: DPH will interview the case to collect clinical and risk factor information and to identify individuals in high-risk occupations or settings (see below). DPH will provide educational materials describing the nature of the disease and preventive measures.

Control Measures

Food Handler: Refer to DPH Food Protection Program at (860) 509-7297.

Health Care Worker with Direct Patient Contact: Individuals with laboratory-confirmed infection should be restricted from direct patient care until diarrhea ceases and two consecutive negative stool cultures spaced at least 24 hours apart are obtained. If the person was treated with antibiotics, cultures should be collected at least 48 hours after last dose.

Day Care Setting: Attendees and/or staff with laboratory-confirmed infection should be excluded from day care until diarrhea ceases and two consecutive negative stool cultures spaced at least 24 hours apart are obtained. If treated with antibiotics, cultures should be collected at least 48 hours after last dose. Any other day care attendees and/or staff with diarrhea should be identified and cultured. Improved sanitation and personal hygiene should be emphasized in day care settings. Proper hand washing by staff and children (especially after using the toilet or handling soiled diapers) should be stressed, as hand hygiene is the most important measure to decrease transmission.

Household Contacts: Household contacts with diarrhea and/or vomiting should be excluded from food handling, child daycare, and direct patient care until they are asymptomatic. Proper hand washing should be stressed.

Updated 6/25/2025