Travel-Related Shigella Outbreak Affects Over 130 in UK

More than 130 people in the United Kingdom have contracted Shigella infections, primarily linked to travel to Cape Verde, as reported by the UK Health Security Agency. The outbreak has resulted in 137 confirmed cases, with 99 of the affected individuals being women.

Samples from the patients show genetic similarity, indicating a common source. Of the cases, 113 are in England, while 12 each are in Scotland and Wales. The majority of those infected had traveled to Santa Maria and Boa Vista in Cape Verde, with 116 reporting international travel and 109 specifically to the affected areas.

Shigella sonnei, the strain implicated in this outbreak, is not resistant to common antimicrobials. Gauri Godbole, deputy director at UKHSA, emphasized the importance of hand hygiene to prevent transmission.

The outbreak is part of a concerning trend, with over 250 infections reported in 10 European countries related to travel from Cape Verde since September 2022, highlighting ongoing public health concerns regarding food safety and hygiene practices for travelers.

The law firm Irwin Mitchell is representing more than 1,400 British holidaymakers who have reported illnesses linked to hotels in Cape Verde since 2022, involving various pathogens including E. coli and Salmonella.