Shocking outbreak of Shigella in Santa Clara County homeless encampments

A bacterial outbreak has emerged among homeless individuals living at San Jose encampments in Columbus and Roosevelt parks, but health officials say the risk to the general public is low.

Three confirmed cases of Shigella, a highly contagious intestinal bacteria, were identified between June 3-17. Two individuals have been hospitalized and four people are being evaluated. There are 19 suspected cases tied to the same outbreak. Shigella causes vomiting and diarrhea, which is often bloody. It gets passed on when individuals put anything in their mouth that has made contact with the infected feces, such as shaking a contaminated hand and then using their hands to eat. People can also catch the disease by drinking water that has been contaminated.

“What’s concerning about this outbreak isn’t the absolute number. We do regularly see Shigella cases,” Dr. Monika Roy, assistant health officer in the county’s Public Health Department, said on Tuesday. “What’s concerning more is the number that are related to each other.”