A bacterial gut infection that can be sexually transmitted is spreading at an alarming rate in the UK, with new research warning that sexually transmitted cases are spreading more than twice as fast as other strains and becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics.
Shigella is a bacterial infection that causes severe diarrhea, stomach cramps and fever. While most people recover within a week, the infection kills more than 200,000 people worldwide every year, mainly through dehydration, malnutrition or intestinal perforation.
There were 2,560 sexually transmitted cases of Shigella in England in 2025, up from 2,318 the year before and 2,052 in 2023.
What new research shows alarming numbers
A study led by the University of Cambridge and the UK Health Security Agency analyzed more than 3,500 Shigella samples collected in the UK between 2004 and 2020.
It found that sexually transmitted strains spread more than twice as fast in terms of distance compared to non-sexually transmitted cases, averaging 117 kilometers over two and a half years compared to 46 kilometers for other strains.
Shigella is transmitted via the fecal-oral route, meaning it gets from feces into the mouth. In the context of sexual transmission that happens through anal sex (direct or indirect contact with fecal matter), rimming (oral-anal contact), which is considered the highest risk activity for this specific infection and fingering followed by touching the mouth.
“Sexual infection is now a sustained part of Shigella transmission in the UK,” professor Kate Baker, senior author of the study, said adding that sexually transmitted Shigella needs to be treated as a distinct public health threat requiring its own surveillance, prevention and treatment strategies.
Doctors warn for these signs
Dr Giuseppe Aragona, a GP and medical adviser, told Tyla that symptoms typically develop within a few days of exposure and include sudden diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever and in some cases blood or mucus in the stool.
He said that persistent diarrhea, signs of dehydration such as dizziness or reduced urine output, or significant blood in the stool should always prompt a visit to a doctor.
To reduce risk, he advised frequent handwashing especially after using the toilet and before handling food, safe food preparation, and clean drinking water when traveling. Those engaging in anal sex or rimming are also advised to wash hands thoroughly between activities.
For those who may have acquired the infection through sexual contact, he recommended avoiding sexual activity until symptoms have fully resolved and practicing good hygiene before and after sex.
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