The spread of a highly contagious intestinal virus has health officials emphasizing prevention.
The Fayette County Health Department used to only see a few cases of shigellosis a year, but since 2014, the numbers have been on the rise. Katie Myatt, the Epidemiology Coordinator with the Health Department says the confirmed cases have been well above average for over a year. “We have not really been able to identify a common root of exposure or anything so we’re trying to reach out to the community and just preach hand hygiene to get our cases back down to normal.”
Shigellosis is typically seen primarily in daycare centers because of the use of diapers and because young children are still learning how to properly wash their hands. Myatt says that hasn’t been the case with the most recent spread of the disease. “Throughout the whole outbreak it’s been a good diverse spread of little bitty kids to adults”
Along with thoroughly washing your hands, the Health Department says you also shouldn’t prepare food for anyone if you are ill, keep a sick child out of common play areas and don’t go swimming for at least two weeks after being diagnosed.