Cases Of Stomach Infection Rise In U.S.: What Idaho Should Know

An aggressive stomach infection that is passed on through contact with bodily fluids, fecal matter, poor hygiene, and sexual activity is reportedly on the rise in America as flu season also kicks off.

October is the time of year when temperatures start to drop, and our bodies begin to adjust to the changing climate. Illnesses like Influenza begin to slowly rise in early fall and peak between December and February, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Keeping hands washed and trying to avoid other people's coughs and sneezes are the only defences we have short of masking up and social isolation. Illnesses such as bronchitis, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and Covid-19 also tend to spike in the late months of the year.

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Reports have spiked in recent weeks regarding the spread of a stomach infection that last made state news back in 2023, according to multiple sources online. Cases of Shigella have reportedly soared in the United States, and some infections have been resistant to treatment, according to LiveNowFox.

Unsplash: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

While no published data pointing to cases in Idaho this year have been verified, the infection did result in some cases in Kootenai County in 2023, according to the Spokane Regional Health District. This might have had something to do with the county's proximity to two major colleges in Pullman and Moscow.

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One way the infection is spread is through sexual contact. Reports of Shigella in 2023 also came out of Spokane County.

Symptoms of Shigella include diarrhea, stomach pain, and fever.