Highly-contagious infection spread by feces breaks out in Portland as homeless crisis sparks disease common in Third World

• In the last month, 45 cases of shigella have been found in Portland , bringing the total from 2023 to 218 
• Multnomah County warned homeless people and same-sex male partners are most at risk of the infection because of their lack of access to hygienic facilities 

A highly contagious infection that is spread through tiny particles of fecal matter has broken out in Portland – with officials warning that the homeless population are most at risk of catching the illness.

Shigella is a bacteria that spreads through human feces. People transmit the infection after getting the microbes on their hands and then touching their mouths.

People can also spread the intestinal infection through sexual intercourse. 

Multnomah County in Oregon has warned that homeless people and same-sex male partners are most at risk because of their lack of access to hygienic facilities.

In the last month, 45 cases have been found in Portland, bringing the total from 2023 to 218. The influx of infections were reported among unhoused people in downtown Portland’s Old Town neighborhood.

Teresa Everson, the county’s deputy health officer, said: ‘Current disease patterns in Multnomah County suggest that fecal-oral spread through sexual contact may account for between half or two-thirds of all cases without international travel.

‘These cases can occur because bathrooms, handwashing sinks and soap can be hard to access when you aren’t housed.

‘And unhoused community members are at higher risk of infectious diseases in general, as they experience poorer health than the broader public.

‘We would like people to not feel anxious in general unless they are in one of the specific populations.

‘We have not seen cases of folks in the general public who have acquired infection that we can’t explain. 

‘Most of the cases that we are seeing are associated with sexual activity, and some with travel. So we do not have any cases that would point us to a risk to the general public.’

Union gospel mission have said that three people are showing symptoms consistent with shigella. They had been staying at a shelter hosted by a local church.

Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. They can last anywhere from three to 10 days – and people have to isolate when they think they have it.   

Bobby Artale caught shigella, and told KATU: ‘It lasted two weeks. It was uncontrollable diarrhea. Oh, it was horrible. It lasted two weeks.

‘Shigella spreads like wildfire. I had to be isolated and had to eat my food alone.’ 

Jessie Burke, who owns the Society Hotel in Old Town, said that she is keeping her business clean and spotless during the outbreak.

She told KGW8: ‘We just want to assure everyone that everything is fine. There is no reason to avoid this area. And these things affect all of the micro economy stuff, so be thoughtful when delivering those messages.’ 

Sara McCall, communicable disease program manager with the county, said that getting people into motels so they can isolate is an effective way to battle the spread.

She said: ‘It gets them off the streets at the time when they are potentially most infectious, so they aren’t visiting shelters or potentially spreading it to other people. It also gives them ready access to hygiene and toileting so they can take care of themselves.’

Despite the outbreak in Old Town, officials have said that there is no clear geographic pattern to cases at this time. 

Annually across the world, it’s estimated that 80 to 165 million people get shigella leading to bacterial diarrhea. An average of 40,000 people die from shigella each year, according to research. 

Shigella is also one of the leading pathogens to cause the intestine infection in African and South Asian children. 

Because of its high contagion, outbreaks are more common in child care centers, community wading pools, nursing homes, jails and military barracks, according to Mayo Clinic.