Press Release
	New York City Department of Health Office of External Affairs
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, December 4, 1997 Contact: Fred Winters (212) 788-5290

Acting Health Commissioner Benjamin Mojica, M.D., announced that an outbreak of shigellosis, a diarrheal disease caused by the bacteria shigella, has been identified in the Borough Park, Flatbush, and Williamsburg sections of Brooklyn. Most of the cases are occurring in children under five years of age. The rate of shigellosis reported among young children in those neighborhoods is as much as 32 times higher than anywhere else in the city.

Dr. Mojica said, "More than 120 laboratory-confirmed cases of shigellosis have been reported to the Health Department from Borough Park, Flatbush, and Williamsburg since July, compared with only 13 confirmed cases from those neighborhoods in the same months in 1996. However, since not everyone who has diarrhea gets a stool test, there are probably many more cases occurring. Large outbreaks of shigellosis have happened in Borough Park three times in the past ten years, and in 1987, it is estimated that more than 13,000 city residents were affected.

"The most important measure to prevent new cases of shigellosis is careful and frequent handwashing with warm water and soap. Persons who care for children, whether at home or at school, are encouraged to help children wash their hands frequently, most importantly after using the toilet and before eating. All persons who take care of young children should wash their hands after changing diapers. Also, anybody who prepares food should wash their hands carefully before handling food." The Department of Health has sent information on preventive measures to parents, schools, and day care centers in the community.

Shigella causes diarrhea which may contain traces of blood or mucus, and can cause severe dehydration, particularly among very young children or elderly persons. Symptoms may also include fever, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal cramps. Shigellosis primarily affects children under age five, but can occur in persons of all ages. Most cases of shigellosis do not require treatment with medicine, but antibiotics are sometimes used for unusually severe cases or to shorten the length of time a person is infected. However, the shigella bacteria causing this outbreak is resistant to the antibiotics most commonly used for treatment, and to prevent further antibiotic resistance, the Health Department recommends that physicians only treat more severe cases of shigellosis.

The Health Department advises that children who have diarrhea should not attend school or day care until the diarrhea is completely resolved. Adults who have diarrhea should not prepare food for other persons.

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