Shigellosis

Statutory notification

• Shigellosis is a notifiable infectious disease in Western Australia.
• Case definition: See Shigellosis (external site) national surveillance case definition.
• Notification: Notify using the communicable disease notification form for metropolitan residents (PDF 214KB) or regional residents (PDF 213KB). For notification of regional residents see contact details of public health units.
• See also description of statutory medical notifications in Western Australia.

Public health summary

• Infectious agent: Shigella (S. sonnei, S. flexneri, S. boydii and S. dysenteriae) bacteria.
• Transmission: Faecal-oral, most commonly person-to-person.
• Incubation period: 12 to 96 hours (usually 1 to 3 days).
• Infectious period: Most infectious while symptomatic and low risk post recovery, although Shigella may persist in the faeces (usually no longer than 4 weeks after symptoms cease). Use contact transmission- based precautions for hospitalised and institutionalised patients.
• Case exclusion: Exclude until asymptomatic, including normal stools, for 24 hours. If patient works in health care, aged care or child-care is a food handler or attends child-care exclude until asymptomatic, including normal stools, for 48 hours. If patient has S. dysenteriae infection and works in health care, aged care or child-care is a food handler or attends child-care, two consecutive negative faecal specimens collected at least 24 hours apart are required for clearance. See Guidelines for Exclusion of People with Enteric Diseases and their Contacts (PDF 764KB).
• Contact exclusion: See Guidelines for Exclusion of People with Enteric Diseases and their Contacts (PDF 764KB).
• Treatment: Oral rehydration and antibiotic treatment as recommended by the doctor.
• Immunisation: None available.
• Case follow-up: Generally only clusters or outbreaks are investigated by the Communicable Disease Control Directorate (OzFoodNet), with assistance from local public health units as required.

Guidelines for public health unit

• Guidelines for the public health management of notifiable enteric diseases (PDF 387KB) 
• Guidelines for Exclusion of People with Enteric Diseases and their Contacts (PDF 764KB) 
• Guidelines for the prevention and management of gastroenteritis outbreaks in residential care facilities (PDF 2.74 MB)
• Guidance for the management of Shigella infections (Shigellosis) in remote population of Western Australia (PDF 283KB)
• Guidance for the management of multi-drug resistant (MDR) Shigella infections (Shigellosis) in Western Australia (PDF 281KB)
• Communicable Disease Guidelines, for teachers, child care workers, local government authorities and medical practitioners

Notifiable disease data and reports

• Notifiable infectious disease dashboard
• General infectious disease reports