The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned that a fast-spreading 'sex superbug' causing severe diarrhoea and stomach cramps is a 'growing and urgent threat' to public health. The bug, Shigella, is a highly contagious bacterial gut infection typically spread through contaminated food or water, but health chiefs say a growing number of cases are now transmitted through sexual contact.
Sexually Transmitted Shigella a Distinct Threat
The 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, travelling an average of 117km over 2.5 years, compared with 46km for non-sexually transmitted strains.
Rising Antibiotic Resistance
Experts are alarmed by rising antibiotic resistance. 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 on the Rise
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 become ill: while some food poisoning bugs need thousands of organisms to infect a person, Shigella can spread with as few as 10 bacteria.
High-Risk Networks
The outbreak is most concentrated within dense sexual networks, predominantly affecting gay, bisexual and other men. Marc Tweed, from the Terrence Higgins Trust, told the Sun the 'growing problem' of shigella among some sexual networks of gay and bisexual men is 'a real cause for concern'. He said: '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.'
Symptoms and Advice
Symptoms usually appear one to four days after exposure and include severe watery diarrhoea, stomach cramps, fever, and nausea or vomiting. Tweed added: 'If you think you may have shigella, you should contact your local sexual health clinic to book an appointment.'
