Department Of Health Warning Hoosiers Of Shigella Disease

The Indiana Department of Health is warning Hoosiers about a statewide outbreak of Shigella, an intestinal disease. Officials say it spreads quickly, the symptoms are very unpleasant, and children are the most at risk. Symptoms include several stomach-related issues, including vomiting. Although the World Health Organization has been working on a shigella vaccine, none is available yet. To prevent the spread of shigella, officials urge people to wash their hands frequently and thoroughly, supervise small children when they wash their hands, dispose of soiled diapers properly, disinfect diaper-changing areas after use, don't prepare food for others if you have diarrhea, keep children with diarrhea home from child care, and avoid swallowing water from ponds, lakes or untreated pools.