US health officials warn surge in drug‑resistant Shigella linked to sexual transmission
A federal report says drug‑resistant Shigella infections are rising, now most common among white men who have sex with men.
By Felo News Desk · Published
U.S. health officials say cases of the drug‑resistant bacterial infection Shigella are climbing, with a recent federal report highlighting a demographic shift toward white men, particularly those who have sex with men (MSM), as the group most at risk.
What happened
The report notes that Shigella causes about 450,000 infections and 38 deaths each year in the United States. More than half of the cases involve strains resistant to standard antibiotics. Transmission occurs through person‑to‑person contact, contaminated food or water, and sexual activity. Men who have sex with men and people experiencing homelessness face a markedly higher risk of infection.
What the reports add
- All three Independent UK articles cite the same CDC data on total cases (450,000) and deaths (38) and the fact that over half are drug‑resistant.
- Two pieces stress that doctors from health departments announced in April that white men are now the most susceptible group, a shift from the historic burden among children under five.
- One article highlights that roughly 242,000 people each year are infected with drug‑resistant strains, according to CDC figures.
- Limited treatment options are noted: the only effective antibiotics for many resistant infections are ceftriaxone and pivmecillinam.
- Severe cases may require these antibiotics, but an “excessively drug‑resistant” (XDR) strain has emerged with no government‑approved oral therapy.
- Researchers have reported encouraging results from clinical trials of a new Shigella vaccine.
- The majority of patients recover with oral rehydration (water or Pedialyte), as advised by the Mayo Clinic.
What was said
“The high transmission potential of XDR Shigella strains highlights the importance of susceptibility testing and timely reporting of this nationally notifiable disease for prevention,” the doctors wrote.
Doctors quoted by Independent UK said the demographic shift could change hospital response strategies, and the CDC warned that “the bacteria spreads through person‑to‑person contact, contaminated food or water, and sexual activity.”
How it came about
Earlier in 2026 the CDC issued alerts about rising drug‑resistant Shigella strains, prompting health‑department doctors to issue the April federal report that identified white men as the newly most vulnerable group. The report follows longstanding concerns that drug‑resistant Shigella disproportionately affected children under five, and it underscores the need for targeted public‑health messaging for MSM and homeless populations.
Key facts
- Shigella causes about 450,000 infections and 38 deaths annually in the US (independent.co.uk)
- More than half of US Shigella cases involve drug‑resistant strains (independent.co.uk)
- White men, especially MSM, are now the group most at risk according to an April federal report (independent.co.uk)
- Men who have sex with men and people experiencing homelessness face significantly elevated risk (independent.co.uk)
