PORTLAND, Oregon — Multnomah County Health officials are sharing new details about the rise in Shigella cases in the Portland metro area. Shigella is a highly contagious bacteria that spreads through fecal matter, with transmission most likely to occur when people get the bacteria on their hands and then touch their mouth, or through sexual intercourse.
The unhoused community and same-sex male partners are among those most at risk, according to Multnomah County Deputy Health Officer Dr. Teresa Everson.
"These cases can occur because bathrooms, handwashing sinks and soap can be hard to access when you aren't housed," she said. "And unhoused community members are at higher risk of infectious diseases in general, as they experience poorer health than the broader public."
The disease isn't a new one — Multnomah County has been tracking Shigella cases since 2012 — but recent weeks have seen a spike in cases at the tail end of a year that already saw rising infections. There have been 218 cases of Shigella reported in the Portland metro area so far in 2023, with 45 of those cases emerging in December.
Health officials said they want the public to be aware, but there isn't cause for alarm.
"We would like people to not feel anxious in general unless they are in one of the specific populations," Everson said. "We have not seen cases of folks in the general public who have acquired infection that we can't explain. Most of the cases that we are seeing are associated with sexual activity, and some with travel. So we do not have any cases that would point us to a risk to the general public."
There isn't a clear geographic pattern for all of the cases, according to county health officials, but there has been an influx of infections reported among unhoused people who live in downtown Portland's Old Town neighborhood.
"We were forewarned in advance by some folks at the city," said Jessie Burke, one of the co-owners of the Society Hotel in Old Town.
Burke said the Shigella news has been upsetting to hear, but isn't surprising. She said her hotel takes pride in keeping things spotless, and hopes the situation doesn’t stop people from supporting Old Town businesses.
"We just want to assure everyone that everything is fine," she said. "There is no reason to avoid this area. And these things affect all of the micro economy stuff, so being thoughtful when delivering those messages."
Symptoms of a Shigella infection can include diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps and sometimes vomiting, and can last 3-10 days. Health officials said anyone who thinks they may have contracted Shigella should get tested and immediately isolate, because the bacteria spreads easily and there are nine different strains.