Shigella (Shigellosis) 2021 Outbreak
Page originally published 09/06/2024. Last updated 09/16/2024.
With no new cases in more than a month, the Shigella (Shigellosis) outbreak declared in October 2021 among persons experiencing homelessness (PEH) in San Diego County is over.
Outbreak Summary
The first identified case
of Shigella
was on October 7,
2021, and the last Shigella
case connected to
the outbreak was December 11, 2021. In
total:
- There were 53 outbreak-related cases (47 confirmed, 6 probable) .
- All cases experienced homelessness .
- There were no deaths .
- Ages ranged from 19-70 years .
- Exposure periods ranged from August 11 to December 14.
- Forty-four (44) cases reported substance use, 38 are known to use methamphetamine.
Descriptive Characteristics of Shigella Outbreak Cases
(N=53)
Updated January 19, 2022
| Characteristics | Total (N=53) |
| Freq (%) | |
| Gender | |
| Male | 32 (60.4) |
| Female | 19 (35.8) |
| Transgender Female | 2 (3.8) |
| Age Group | |
| <18 | 0 (0) |
| 18-44 | 24 (45.3) |
| 45-64 | 25 (47.2) |
| ≥65 | 4 (7.5) |
| Race and Ethnicity | |
| American Indian/ Alaskan Native | 0 (0) |
| Asian | 0 (0) |
| Black, non-Hispanic/Latino | 15 (28.3) |
| Hispanic/Latino | 11 (20.7) |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 0 (0) |
| White, non-Hispanic/Latino | 26 (49.1) |
| Other | 1 (1.9) |
| Hospitalizations | 36 (67.9) |
| Sexual Orientation | |
| Heterosexual | 21 (39.6) |
| MSM | 2 (3.8) |
| Declined to Answer | 2 (3.8) |
| Unknown | 28 (52.8) |
| Substance Use | |
| Yes | 44 (83) |
| No | 2 (3.8) |
| Unknown | 6 (11.2) |
Figure 1. Epidemiological curve
Communications
California Health Alert Network (CAHAN) San Diego
- CAHAN San Diego Health Advisory: Shigella sonnei among persons experiencing homeless in San Diego County (10/11/21)
County of San Diego
- County Determines Shigella Outbreak Over (1/14/22)
-
Update: Shigella Outbreak in San Diego
County (12/17/21)
-
Update: Shigella Outbreak in San Diego
County (12/3/21)
-
Update: Shigella Outbreak in San Diego
County (11/19/21)
-
Update: Shigella Outbreak in San Diego
County (11/12/21)
-
Update: Shigella Outbreak in San Diego
County (11/5/21)
-
Update: Shigella Outbreak in San Diego
County (10/28/21)
- Update: Shigella Outbreak in San Diego County (10/26/21)
- San Diego County Shigella Outbreak Update (10/21/21)
-
Shigella Outbreak Reported in City of San
Diego Individuals Experiencing Homelessness (10/11/21)
For more information, contact the Epidemiology Unit at (619) 692-8499 or send us an e-mail.
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