Shigellosis in Cape Verde

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reports a continuing outbreak of shigellosis in travellers returning to Europe from Cape Verde.

From November 2021 to October 2022, 55 cases of shigellosis have been reported from the United Kingdom (23 cases), The Netherlands (22 cases), Denmark (4 cases), France (3 cases), Germany (2 cases) and Portugal (1 case).

Shigellosis is a bacterial gut infection that can result in dysentery (bloody diarrhoea). It is spread from person-to-person through the faecal-oral route, mainly through contaminated food and water.

Shigellae bacteria are highly infectious, it only takes a small amount of Shigella to make someone sick. Illness is usually short lived (4-7 days) and can resolve without treatment. Severe cases may require medical treatment.

There is no vaccine available against Shigellosis.

Advice to travellers

All travellers, irrespective of destination should be advised to seek medical advice if they develop symptoms, which may include:

• diarrhoea, often profuse and watery from the onset and may contain flecks of blood and mucous, which may lead to dehydration
• fever
• abdominal pain (often cramping)
• nausea and vomiting

All travellers should be advised to practice effective hand hygiene and food and water precautions. This includes:

• effective hand washing before eating, food preparation and after using the toilet
• ensuring food is stored correctly, freshly cooked and piping hot
• carefully washing fruit, vegetables, salads and herbs before consumption, and peeling whenever possible
• avoiding unpasteurised milk or dairy products

Travellers returning home with symptoms of Shigellosis should be advised to:

• drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration
• avoid use of anti-diarrhoeal medications which can make symptoms worse
• seek medical review if they have a high fever and feel very unwell

For further information see:

• Shigellosis 
• Travellers Diarrhoea
• Food and Water Precautions