Brits are being warned a fast-spreading ‘sex superbug’ that can trigger severe diarrhoea and stomach cramps is a ‘growing and urgent threat’ to public health. According to new reports, it is also becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics.
Shigella is a highly contagious bacterial gut infection that can be picked up through contaminated food or water. However, health chiefs say a growing number of cases are now being spread through sexual contact.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) first warned about a spike in sexually transmitted Shigella in March, but a major new study by the University of Cambridge and UKHSA suggests the sexually transmissible outbreak should now be treated as a “distinct public health threat”.
Researchers found the sex-linked strain appears to spread around twice as fast across the country as other types of Shigella. The study suggests it travelled an average of 117km over 2.5 years, compared with 46km for non-sexually transmitted strains.
Experts are also alarmed by rising antibiotic resistance, LBC reported. The research found around 70% of sexually transmitted Shigella strains were resistant to at least one “clinically relevant” antibiotic.
Scientists believe resistance may have been accelerated by antibiotic use for other sexually transmitted infections. Cases are rising too.
Sexually transmitted Shigella cases in England increased to 2,560, up from 2,318 and 2,052 in previous years, with more than 54% of infections concentrated in London, according to the University of Cambridge.
It takes very little to make someone ill. While some food poisoning bugs need thousands of organisms to infect a person, Shigella can spread with as few as 10 bacteria.
The outbreak is reported to be most concentrated within dense sexual networks, predominantly affecting gay, bisexual and other men. Marc Tweed, from the Terrence Higgins Trust, said the “growing problem” of shigella among some sexual networks of gay and bisexual men is “a real cause for concern”, the Sun reported.
He told the Sun: “Studies have linked transmission with dense sexual networks, multiple partners, sexualised drug use, PrEP use and concurrent sexually transmitted infections. But these are associations, not proof that any one behaviour alone is driving the increase.
“If you think you may have shigella, you should contact your local sexual health clinic to book an appointment.” Symptoms usually appear one to four days after exposure and can look like standard food poisoning.
This includes severe watery diarrhoea, stomach cramps, fever, and nausea or vomiting.
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