Shigellosis is a diarrheal disease caused by infection with Shigella bacteria. Transmission of Shigella usually occurs through contact with the “4 Fs,” which are food, feces, flies, and fomites (inert surfaces). It also can also be spread through sexual contact.
Gram-negative Shigella sonnei bacteria.
Credit
CDC, Dr.Todd Parker
More Shigellosis Research at NIAID
NIAID supports basic research to study the bacterial pathogens that cause shigellosis. Researchers are also developing vaccines to prevent Shigella infections in humans and ways to combat the effects of Shiga toxin geared towards protecting the public from this diarrheal disease and towards improving the general public health.