Shigellosis (Shigella Gastroenteritis) in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Shigellosis is a bowel (intestinal) infection caused by bacteria from the Shigella family. It is also known as Shigella infection, Shigella enteritis, or bacillary dysentery.

In Grand Rapids and across West Michigan, shigellosis is a reportable infection that local health providers and the Kent County Health Department monitor closely, especially in childcare centers, long‑term care facilities, and other group settings.

How Shigellosis Spreads

Shigella bacteria must be swallowed to cause infection. The most common ways it spreads in Grand Rapids are:

  • Person‑to‑person contact

    • Touching the stool (poop) of an infected person (for example, during diaper changes)
    • Not washing hands properly after using the toilet or changing a diaper
    • Touching surfaces (toilet handles, doorknobs, toys, phones) contaminated with Shigella and then touching your mouth

  • Food and water contamination

    • Eating food prepared by someone who is infected and did not wash their hands well
    • Drinking or swallowing water contaminated with human feces (for example, untreated water from rivers or lakes)

  • Sexual contact

    • Oral–anal (oro‑anal) sex or other sexual activities that involve contact with the anal area
    • Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at particular risk

In West Michigan, the risk of water‑related spread can increase in warmer months when people swim in lakes and rivers. Always avoid swallowing lake or river water and follow local health advisories.

Incubation Period and How Long It Lasts

  • After swallowing Shigella, the bacteria usually incubate for 1–3 days before symptoms start.
  • Symptoms typically last 4–7 days.
  • Some people can continue to carry and pass on the bacteria even after symptoms stop.

Who Is at Higher Risk in Grand Rapids?

Anyone can get shigellosis, but certain groups in Grand Rapids are more vulnerable:

  • Young children, especially those in:
    • Childcare centers
    • Preschools and kindergartens
  • Older adults, particularly in:
    • Nursing homes
    • Assisted living or long‑term care facilities
  • People with weakened immune systems
  • Men who have sex with men
  • People experiencing homelessness or living in crowded conditions
  • Travelers to countries with poor sanitation

While children are particularly prone to shigellosis, it is uncommon in babies under 6 months.

Symptoms of Shigellosis

Symptoms can range from mild to severe. Common symptoms include:

  • Diarrhea, which may contain:
    • Blood
    • Mucus
    • Pus
  • Fever
  • Abdominal cramps or stomach pain
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Lethargy (feeling very tired or weak)

These symptoms can be more severe in:

  • Young children
  • Older adults
  • People with other chronic health conditions

Possible Complications

Children and older adults in Grand Rapids are more likely to develop complications, especially if they become dehydrated or do not receive timely care. Complications can include:

  • Dehydration
    • Dry mouth
    • Less urine (fewer wet diapers in infants)
    • Sunken eyes
    • Feeling very weak or dizzy, especially when standing up
  • Seizures
    • Often related to high fever in young children
  • Severe headache
  • Stiff neck
  • In rare cases, life‑threatening illness

When to Seek Urgent Medical Care

Contact your Grand Rapids healthcare provider, urgent care, or go to an emergency department (e.g., Corewell Health (Spectrum Health) Butterworth Hospital, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health facilities) immediately if:

  • Diarrhea is bloody or very frequent
  • There are signs of severe dehydration
  • A child has a seizure or very high fever
  • Symptoms are not improving after a few days
  • The sick person is an infant, elderly, pregnant, or has a weakened immune system

Carriers and Ongoing Infection Risk

Even after symptoms of shigellosis clear, some people:

  • Continue to excrete Shigella bacteria in their stool for weeks or months
  • May feel completely well but can still infect others

These people are called carriers. This is one reason strict handwashing and hygiene are essential in homes, childcare centers, schools, and workplaces in Grand Rapids.

Diagnosis of Shigellosis in Grand Rapids

Shigellosis is diagnosed by testing a stool sample or sometimes a rectal swab.

Your Grand Rapids provider may:

  • Order stool cultures through local labs (often via Spectrum Health, Trinity Health, or independent labs)
  • Notify the Kent County Health Department if the test is positive (required by law for public health tracking)

Treatment for Shigellosis

Most people recover with supportive care at home. Treatment may include:

  • Plenty of fluids
    • Water
    • Oral rehydration solutions (available at pharmacies across Grand Rapids)
    • Broths or electrolyte drinks (as advised by your doctor)
  • Oral rehydration drinks for children and older adults
  • Intravenous (IV) fluids in severe cases (usually in hospital)
  • Eating light, solid foods as tolerated

Medications

  • Antibiotics

    • Can shorten the illness and reduce spread
    • Are usually reserved for:
      • Very sick patients
      • Vulnerable people (young children, older adults, immunocompromised)
      • People in residential or institutional settings
    • Use is limited because of increasing antibiotic resistance

  • Avoid anti‑diarrheal or anti‑vomiting medications unless specifically prescribed or recommended by your doctor. Some over‑the‑counter products can make the infection worse or prolong it.

Always follow the advice of your Grand Rapids healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Preventing Shigellosis in Grand Rapids

Good hygiene is the most effective way to prevent shigellosis in our community.

Handwashing

Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water:

  • After using the toilet
  • After changing diapers or cleaning up someone who has used the toilet
  • Before preparing, serving, or eating food
  • After helping someone with diarrhea
  • After handling garbage
  • After contact with animals or animal waste

Use disposable paper towels to dry your hands, especially in shared bathrooms, because Shigella can survive on cloth towels.

Food Safety Tips

In Grand Rapids homes, restaurants, and food service settings:

  • Keep cold food cold (below 41°F / 5°C)
  • Keep hot food hot (above 140°F / 60°C)
  • Cook foods thoroughly
    • Especially meat, poultry, and eggs
  • Reheat leftovers until the internal temperature reaches at least 167°F / 75°C
  • Wash raw vegetables and fruits thoroughly before eating
  • Avoid preparing food for others if you have diarrhea or have recently had diarrhea

Household and Environmental Cleaning

To reduce spread at home:

  • Clean toilets and bathrooms regularly, including:
    • Toilet seat
    • Flush handle
    • Door handles
    • Sink taps
  • Use a disinfectant that kills bacteria, such as products containing chlorine (bleach), following label directions.
  • Clean baby changing tables frequently and disinfect after each use.
  • Dispose of diapers in a sealed bag and wash hands carefully afterward.

Do not share towels, washcloths, or bed linens with someone who is infected.

Water Safety in Michigan

In West Michigan, many people enjoy the Grand River, inland lakes, and nearby Great Lakes. To reduce your risk:

  • Do not drink untreated water from rivers, streams, or lakes.
  • Boil water from these sources before drinking, cooking, or brushing teeth if you are camping or at a rustic cabin.
  • Avoid swallowing water while swimming in pools, splash pads, lakes, or rivers.
  • Follow any boil water advisories or public health alerts issued by the Kent County Health Department or the City of Grand Rapids.

Sexual Health and Shigellosis

Because Shigella can spread through sexual contact:

  • Do not have sex with anyone who currently has diarrhea or has recently recovered from diarrhea.
  • This is especially important for oral–anal (oro‑anal) contact and other practices involving the anal area.
  • Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at particular risk.

After recovery:

  • Avoid sex for one week after diarrhea has completely stopped.
  • For an additional two weeks, to reduce risk:
    • Wash hands well before and after sex
    • Avoid high‑risk activities such as oral–anal sex, or
    • Use barrier methods (condoms, dental dams)

If you have concerns, contact a local sexual health clinic or your primary care provider in Grand Rapids.

Staying Home and Protecting Others

To prevent spreading shigellosis in Grand Rapids workplaces, schools, and care facilities:

  • The infected person should stay home until diarrhea has completely stopped.
  • Do not prepare meals for others at home or work while you are sick.
  • Avoid visiting vulnerable people, such as:
    • Residents in nursing homes
    • Hospital patients
    • People with weakened immune systems

Work and School Restrictions

People in high‑risk occupations should stay away from work and follow public health advice if they have shigellosis. This includes:

  • Food workers (restaurants, cafeterias, food processing)
  • Healthcare workers
  • Childcare workers
  • Staff in residential or long‑term care facilities

Children with shigellosis must not attend:

  • Childcare centers
  • Kindergartens
  • Schools

until at least 24 hours after their symptoms have stopped and as directed by their healthcare provider or the Kent County Health Department.

Travel‑Related Prevention

If you travel from Grand Rapids to areas with poor sanitation:

  • Drink only bottled, boiled, or treated water
  • Use bottled water for brushing teeth
  • Avoid:
    • Food buffets where food may sit at room temperature
    • Uncooked foods, salads, or unpeeled fruits and vegetables
    • Ice in drinks (it may be made from unsafe water)

Continue careful handwashing and safe sex practices during and after travel.

Local Grand Rapids Resources and Where to Get Help

If you think you or your child may have shigellosis, contact:

  • Your primary care provider or pediatrician
    (Spectrum Health / Corewell Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, Mercy Health, or independent practices)
  • Urgent care or walk‑in clinics in Grand Rapids
  • Emergency departments for severe symptoms (bloody diarrhea, dehydration, seizures, high fever)

For public health information and guidance:

  • Kent County Health Department
    Website: search “Kent County Health Department shigella”
    Phone: listed on the Kent County Health Department site
  • Grand Rapids Public Health resources via the City of Grand Rapids website

Pharmacists at local Grand Rapids pharmacies (Meijer, Walgreens, CVS, independent pharmacies) can also advise on:

  • Oral rehydration solutions
  • Over‑the‑counter symptom relief (as appropriate)
  • When to seek medical care

Many services in Grand Rapids are youth‑friendly and experienced in supporting teens and young adults with confidential sexual and gastrointestinal health concerns.

Key Points About Shigellosis in Grand Rapids

  • Shigellosis is a contagious bowel infection that spreads through contact with infected stool, contaminated food or water, and some sexual activities.
  • Symptoms usually last 4–7 days and can include diarrhea (sometimes bloody), fever, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.
  • Children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of severe illness and complications.
  • Men who have sex with men are at particular risk due to sexual transmission routes.
  • Infection can still spread even after symptoms stop, because some people continue to carry and excrete Shigella.
  • Handwashing, food safety, water safety, and avoiding sex during and shortly after illness are critical to prevent spread.
  • Seek prompt medical advice from a Grand Rapids healthcare provider if you or your child has bloody diarrhea, signs of dehydration, or symptoms that are not improving.