What is Shingella?

About Shingella:

• It is an intestinal infection caused by a family of bacteria known as shigella.
• The four species of Shigella are: Shigella sonnei, Shigella flexneri, Shigella boydii and Shigella dysenteriae.
• Symptoms: Diarrhea, Stomach pain or cramps, Fever, Nausea or vomiting.
• Transmission: It is very contagious. People get infected with shigella when they come in contact with and swallow small amounts of bacteria from the stool of a person

 Who is infected with shigella?

• Children under age 5 are most likely to get shigella infection, but it can occur at any age. 
• Vaccine: Currently, there are no vaccines available for shigella.
• Precautions: Wash your hands thoroughly before and after a meal. Wash your hands properly after a bowel movement. Ensure the water that you drink is clean and the fruits and vegetables are fresh.
• Disease burden: It has been estimated that shigella triggers a huge disease burden globally, causing nearly 125 million diarrhoeal episodes annually and around 1,60,000 deaths, with a third of these associated with children under five years of age.

Q1: What is Bacteria?

Bacteria are microscopic single-celled prokaryotic organisms that play a crucial role in the ecosystem and have a significant impact on human health. Bacteria can be found all over the world, including the top of the mountains or the deeper trenches in the oceans.

Source: ICMR back in race to offer world’s 1st vaccine for deadly shigella, to tie up with Indian manufacturer