A Suspect Cluster of Indigenous Shigellosis in Taipei, Taiwan, 2015

Mei-Lan Hung, Ying-Shih Su, Yu-Fang Tsai, Jiunn-Shyan Julian Wu^＊, Jer-Jea Yen

2015 Vol.31 NO.11

Correspondence Author： Jiunn-Shyan Julian Wu

Abstract：

From January 1 to April 13,2015, eight cases of Shigella infection were reported to the Taipei Regional Center of Taiwan Centers for Disease Control(TRC, TCDC).  Seven persons wereconfirmed as Shigella sonnei(serogroup D) and the other one was confirmed as S. flexneri (serogroup B) from their stool samples by the Research, Diagnostics and Vaccine Development Center of TCDC. Epidemiologic investigation reveled that all eight cases were human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) infected males ofactive sexual-behavior age. The HIV case management profiles of these casessuggest that the route of transmission of this suspect cluster of shigellosis were likely to be person-to-person transmission especially unsafe sex includingoral and anal sex. We suggest cross-departmental cooperation within health authorities is of necessity to timely mobilize bothhigh risk groups case management experts and infectious disease controlpersonnel to jointly implement preventive measures, health education of safesex and establish good hygiene to reduce the risk of contracting infection and block further transmission in this country.