This disease results from the bacteria Shigella. This bacteria is associated with foodborne illness but can also be transferred through contaminated water or other means of fecal-oral contact. Shigellosis is one of the lesser known foodborne illness diseases. It only takes 10-100 bacteria to cause the illness. Symptoms can occur as soon as 12 hours after ingestion or up to 3 days. Without treatment with antibiotics, the bacteria can remain in the stool up to 4 weeks. Antibiotics can reduce this time to a few days. Symptoms associated with Shigellosis include abdominal pain, cramps, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Foods associated with Shigellosis include salads (potato, tuna, shrimp, macaroni, and chicken), raw vegetables, milk and dairy products, and poultry. Contamination of these foods is usually through the fecal-oral route. Fecally contaminated water and unsanitary handling of food are the most common causes of contamination. The best defense is using good hygiene practices. If you have this illness, do not prepare food. Keep children with diarrhea out of swimming pools.

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