ECDC is warning of the increasing spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Shigella infections across Europe, particularly among men who have sex with men.
Since 2023, more than 2 300 infections linked to seven genetically distinct MDR/XDR Shigella sonnei and Shigella flexneri clusters have been reported by countries in Europe as well as the United States. The clusters include both long-standing and more recently identified transmission chains and are associated with mainly, but not exclusively, gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men.
The growing circulation of MDR/XDR Shigella strains is a public health concern because treatment options are becoming increasingly limited. At the same time, the bacteria can spread very easily between people, including through sexual contact.
Read the full news release here.Access the latest epidemiological update here.