- Case Counts: Public Health Ontario. Query: Case counts of reportable diseases by public health unit and year. Toronto, ON: Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion; extracted on January 16, 2025.
- Population estimates: Statistics Canada 2014-2022, IntelliHEALTH Ontario, Ministry of Health, extracted on April 23, 2024.
- Population projections: Statistics Canada, 2023, IntelliHEALTH Ontario, Ministry of Health, extracted on April 23, 2024.
Shigella
Shigellosis is an illness of the intestines caused by bacteria called shigella. Shigella is naturally found in the intestines of humans. Shigellosis is easily spread, and you can become infected by eating contaminated foods, drinking contaminated liquids, touching contaminated surfaces, swimming and bathing in contaminated recreational waters, having exposure to the stool of an infected person, or touching your food or your mouth with hands that are contaminated.
Local Information
2024 Statistics
Incidence rate is the number of new cases of disease divided by the number of persons at risk for the disease during a particular time period.
Cases:
2*
Incidence rate per 100,000 in 2024: 1.4
*Includes confirmed cases in 2024.
Incidence rate per 100,000 of Shigellosis by year
More Information about Shigellosis
Report to the Health Unit by next business day by phone at 705-474-1400 or toll free at 1-800-563-2808, ext. 5229 if shigellosis is suspected or confirmed as per Ontario Regulation 135/18 and amendments under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, R.S.O., c.H.7.
Should one go to childcare, school, or work if they have shigellosis?
Exclude symptomatic individuals who are food handlers, healthcare providers, caregivers, or childcare staff/attendees until a negative stool sample or rectal swab is collected at least 24 hours after symptoms stop OR 48 hours after completing antibiotic treatment.
Avoid attending swimming pools, hot tubs, or water spray parks (splash pads) for at least 7 days after symptoms have stopped.
Follow the direction of your healthcare provider, public health case manager, or occupational health at your workplace.
Contact our Communicable Disease Control (CDC) program at 705-474-1400 or toll free at 1-800-563-2808, ext. 5229, or by email to cdc@healthunit.ca for more information.
Last updated: February 2025, by CDC