--- title: What is Shigella? date: 2026-07-05T09:50:00-07:00 author: Bill Marler canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/news_events/what-is-shigella" section: News --- [All News](/news_events) / [Firm News](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/firm-news) / # What is Shigella? ***Shigella*** *Shigella* takes remarkably little to make a person sick—a mere handful of organisms—which is why it spreads so easily through food touched by an infected worker. It causes dysentery, a painful and sometimes bloody diarrhea, and it passes so readily from person to person that a single sick food handler can spread illness well beyond the original meal. [Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm](https://marlerclark.com/), is the nation’s leading firm representing victims of [*Shigella*](https://about-shigella.com/) outbreaks. Our [*Shigella* lawyers](https://marlerclark.com/food-litigation/shigella-outbreak-litigation) have represented thousands of victims in the only U.S. law practice devoted exclusively to foodborne illness, which has recovered more than $850 million for victims and families nationwide. We have traced [*Shigella*](https://about-shigella.com/) outbreaks to tomatoes, airline meals, and restaurant food. If you or a family member became ill with a [*Shigella*](https://about-shigella.com/) infection after eating contaminated food, contact the Marler Clark [*Shigella*](https://about-shigella.com/) attorneys for a free case evaluation. **FAQ** **What is *Shigella*?** *Shigella* is a highly contagious bacterium that causes shigellosis—a painful, sometimes bloody diarrhea known as dysentery. It takes only a tiny number of organisms to make someone sick, so it spreads easily through food handled by an infected worker or through person-to-person contact. **What foods cause *Shigella* outbreaks?** Foods handled by an infected worker—salads, sandwiches, raw produce—are common vehicles, along with restaurant and catered meals. Contaminated water can also spread it. **What are the symptoms of shigellosis?** Diarrhea (often bloody), fever, and stomach cramps, usually starting one to two days after exposure and lasting about a week. **Why does *Shigella* spread so easily?** Because as few as 10 to 100 organisms can cause infection, a single sick food handler can sicken many people, and illness can pass from person to person well beyond the original meal. **Can I sue for a *Shigella* infection?** If your illness traces to a restaurant or a contaminated product, you may have a claim. Prompt testing and reporting to the health department help establish the source. **Additional Resources:** - • [About-*Shigella*.com](https://about-shigella.com/) — in-depth information about *Shigella* bacteria and infection - • [*Shigella* Blog](https://www.shigellablog.com/) — current news on *Shigella* outbreaks and research ### Other Shigella Lawsuits [Shigella at LongHorn sickens 68](https://marlerclark.com/shigella-at-longhorn-sickens-14) [Shigella Outbreak hits Westin Bonventure Hotel - Lawsuit Filed](https://marlerclark.com/shigella-outbreak-hits-westin-bonventure-hotel) [Los Cabos San Lucas Mexican Grill Shigella Outbreak - 60 Sick](https://marlerclark.com/los-cabos-san-lucas-mexican-grill-shigella-outbreak-100-sick) [Investigation of 32 Shigella Illnesses Show Link to Seattle's Tamarind Tree Restaurant](https://marlerclark.com/investigation-of-32-shigella-illnesses-show-link-to-seattles-tamarind-tree-restaurant) [Shigella Lawyers | Marler 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2022](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2022) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2023](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2023) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2024](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2024) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2025](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2025) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2026](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2026) ##### Get Help #### Affected by an outbreak or recall? The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more. [ Get a free consultation ](https://marlerclark.com/contact) ##### Related Resources ###### [Shigella Food Poisoning](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/shigella/about-shigella) What is Shigella and how does it cause food poisoning? Recognized worldwide as the most common cause of dysentery, the Shiga bacillus—or Shigella—is a facultatively anaerobic, non-motile gram negative rod... ###### [The Incidence of Shigella Infection](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/shigella/shigella-incidence) How common are Shigella infections and Shigella outbreaks? The number of shigellosis cases reported annually to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has varied over the past several... ###### [The Prevalence of Shigella in Food and Elsewhere](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/shigella/shigella-prevalence) 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... ###### [How is Shigella Infection Spread?](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/shigella/shigella-transmission) Human cases of Shigella are typically acquired through contact with infected persons or ingestion of food contaminated with Shigella bacteria. As previously noted, Shigella species are transmitted by the fecal-oral... ###### [Symptoms of Shigella Infection](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/shigella/shigella-symptoms-risks) Symptoms of Shigella infection include painful abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and fever. Most people who are infected with Shigella develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps after being exposed to the bacteria... ##### Outbreak Database #### Looking for a comprehensive list of outbreaks? The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more. [ View Outbreak Database ](https://outbreakdatabase.com)