--- title: The Prevalence of Shigella in Food and Elsewhere date: 2021-01-04T20:29:00-08:00 author: admin canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/shigella/shigella-prevalence" section: Resource Library --- [Foodborne Illnesses](/foodborne-illnesses) / [Shigella](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/shigella) / # The Prevalence of Shigella in Food and Elsewhere ### Large *Shigella* outbreaks have been traced to contaminated food and water. The CDC estimates that 450,000 to 500,000 total cases of shigellosis occur in the U.S. every year. The CDC does not classify shigellosis by a seasonal pattern; according to the agency, its incidence is driven by outbreaks. But, there is conflicting evidence suggesting the seasonality of *Shigella* infection, where incidence is connected with weather higher in temperature and precipitation. A confounding factor related to potential shigellosis seasonality is the fact that warmer months are typically when events including traveling, recreational water, and person-to-person contact increase, all of which are factors that contribute to outbreaks of *Shigella*. *Shigella* is an especially common cause of disease among young children, in large part because it is difficult to control the spread of the bacteria in daycare settings. The symptoms of shigellosis vary so widely that children shedding *Shigella* in their stool may exhibit no symptoms of infection. A person infected with *Shigella* can be asymptomatic (i.e. show no symptoms of illness), suffer from moderate to severe diarrhea, or suffer complications up to and including death. [ Next: How is Shigella Infection Spread? › ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/shigella/shigella-transmission) ### More information about Shigella [February 26, 2020 ###### Mariscos San Juan Restaurant Shigella Outbreak and Litigation - California (2015) According to a Public Health Warning, on Saturday afternoon, October 17, 2015, the Santa Clara County Public Health Department was notified by a local hospital of 5 patients with fever ... ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/mariscos-san-juan-restaurant-shigella-outbreak-and-litigation-california-2015) [February 11, 2018 ###### Pearl Catering Shigella Outbreak Lawsuits - Oregon (2018) On August 14, 2018 the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Yamhill County Health and Human Services received reports of multiple people with gastrointestinal illness days after attending a wedding and ... ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/pearl-catering-shigella-outbreak-and-litigation-oregon-2018) [November 05, 2014 ###### Salsarita Shigella Outbreak Lawsuit – Arkansas (2014) Salsarita’s Restaurant in the Walmart Home Office Café in Bentonville has reopened following a Shigella outbreak that made 275 sick in nine states. ... ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/salsarita-shigella-outbreak-lawsuit-arkansas-2014) [March 08, 2010 ###### Subway Restaurant Shigella Outbreak Lawsuits - Illinois (2010) At least 116 people were confirmed ill with Shigella infections traced to a Subway restaurant in Lombard, IL in March of 2010. Marler Clark represented 74 people sickened in this ... ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/subway-restaurant-shigella-outbreak-chicago) [1. View all ](/news_events/outbreaks?illness=shigella&year=all) ## All Shigella Resources [###### Shigella Food Poisoning ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/shigella/about-shigella) [###### The Incidence of Shigella Infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/shigella/shigella-incidence) [###### The Prevalence of Shigella in Food and Elsewhere ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/shigella/shigella-prevalence) [###### How is Shigella Infection Spread? ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/shigella/shigella-transmission) [###### Symptoms of Shigella Infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/shigella/shigella-symptoms-risks) [###### Complications of Shigella Infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/shigella/shigella-complications) [###### How is Shigellosis Diagnosed? ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/shigella/shigella-diagnosis) [###### Treatment for Shigella Infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/shigella/shigella-treatment) [###### The Economic Impact of Shigella Infections ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/shigella/shigella-economic-impact) [###### How to Prevent Shigella Infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/shigella/shigella-prevention) [###### Outbreaks of Shigella Infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/shigella/shigella-outbreaks) [###### Antimicrobial Resistance in Bacteria ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/shigella/antimicrobial-resistance-in-bacteria-shigella) [###### Shigella References ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/shigella/shigella-references) ### Other foodborne illnesses [E. coli](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli) [Salmonella](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella) [Listeria](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria) [Hepatitis A](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hepatitis-a) [Reactive Arthritis](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/reactive-arthritis) [Guillain-Barre Syndrome](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/guillain-barre-syndrome) [Irritable Bowel Syndrome](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/irritable-bowel-syndrome) [Norovirus](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/norovirus) [Botulism](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/botulism) [Campylobacter](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/campylobacter) [Cyclospora](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/cyclospora) [Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hemolytic-uremic-syndrome)