European Public Health Officer is monitoring a outbreak associated with international travel on long-hall flights.
A cluster of 20 genetically involved Shigeli Sonnei Sequence Type (ST) 152 cases was first reported by the United Kingdom.
Austria, France, Ireland and the Netherlands have also recorded genetically associated cases, which suggests a common source of infection. Austria and France have seven cases while Ireland has three and one in the Netherlands.
The sick people reported an intercontinental long-hall trip, including the same anonymous airport, but for the last destinations before the onset of the disease.
Of the 38 cases, 29 recently had an international visit, including going to 22 countries in Asia, including Singapore, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Four traveled to Africa and three in Australia.
In January 2025, the date of separation or disease date to the patients began, in which the case and the latest case were reported on January 17 as soon as possible. In 38 cases, 23 are women. The age of patients is at the age of 15 to 70 years.
The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) stated that the common risk is likely to occur during international transit, by the same airline or on flights operated with the same cactor or on the airport.
Further cases may occur until the source of vehicle and infection is identified and measures are taken to address it.
The ECDC stated that it was monitoring the event through the epipulles system and was in touch with the European Union member states.
Infection with Shigela can occur when a person swallows food or water contaminated by human feces, either through contaminated hands or objects that are exposed to infected stool. Secondary infections are common due to low infectious doses.
The incubation period is one to two days. Symptoms of shigelosis include diarrhea that may be more bloody or longer than three days, fever, abdominal pain and discomfort.
In 2022, 30 European countries confirmed Shigelosis 4,149. For 578 infections where information about suspected mode of transmission was known, transmission through food was recorded for 394 cases.
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