KANSAS CITY, MO. -
The Kansas City Missouri Health Department is sending out a warning about a bug that's already invaded the metro. It's call Shigellosis. And, it's a bacterial disease that's picking up steam.
Children are usually hit hardest by the disease. Health department officials said the metro has seen nearly 300 cases this year. Usually there are only about a dozen or so cases in that time.
"Started off with cramping and went almost immediately into diarrhea," said Jeff Hershberger. "Soon after that into vomitting."
Jeff Hershberger didn't have Shigellosis but he had all the classic symptoms of it three years ago when he had a bout with Salmonella.
"It wiped me out for several days," Hershberger said.
Hershberger said Shigellosis is having that same effect on other people in the Kansas City area.
He sayid 75 percent of the nearly 300 cases in our area have involved children ten- years-old and younger. With a death rate of 10-15 percent in some strains, that's serious stuff.
"As an adult, a little diahrrea can happen," Hershberger said. "But as a small child, you can dehydrate very quickly."
Hershberger said the Shigella bacterium targets daycare centers where children not only congregate, they can become contagious.
"People are usually good at washing their own hands after changing a diaper," said Hersgerber. "But, they don't remember to wash the child's hands."
And those same children can then possibly spread those germs to you at your local supermarket. They can spread those germs by touching produce.
"They don't think about it, but everytime they do that, they run the risk of exposing themselves," he said.
People in the health industry encourage people to be sanitary.
"Wash your hands! Wash your hands!" Hershberger said. "We all know the drill. But how many of us do it enough. Shigellosis or any other kind of "osis", this is the best defense against any invader."
"There's always some kind of illness out there that can be prevented by just washing your hands with soap and water."
People at Children's Mercy said they have not seen any cases of Shigellosis. The Kansas City Missouri Health Department said they've alerted nearly 400 daycare centers throughout the metro.
Children are usually hit hardest by the disease. Health department officials said the metro has seen nearly 300 cases this year. Usually there are only about a dozen or so cases in that time.
"Started off with cramping and went almost immediately into diarrhea," said Jeff Hershberger. "Soon after that into vomitting."
Jeff Hershberger didn't have Shigellosis but he had all the classic symptoms of it three years ago when he had a bout with Salmonella.
"It wiped me out for several days," Hershberger said.
Hershberger said Shigellosis is having that same effect on other people in the Kansas City area.
He sayid 75 percent of the nearly 300 cases in our area have involved children ten- years-old and younger. With a death rate of 10-15 percent in some strains, that's serious stuff.
"As an adult, a little diahrrea can happen," Hershberger said. "But as a small child, you can dehydrate very quickly."
Hershberger said the Shigella bacterium targets daycare centers where children not only congregate, they can become contagious.
"People are usually good at washing their own hands after changing a diaper," said Hersgerber. "But, they don't remember to wash the child's hands."
And those same children can then possibly spread those germs to you at your local supermarket. They can spread those germs by touching produce.
"They don't think about it, but everytime they do that, they run the risk of exposing themselves," he said.
People in the health industry encourage people to be sanitary.
"Wash your hands! Wash your hands!" Hershberger said. "We all know the drill. But how many of us do it enough. Shigellosis or any other kind of "osis", this is the best defense against any invader."
"There's always some kind of illness out there that can be prevented by just washing your hands with soap and water."
People at Children's Mercy said they have not seen any cases of Shigellosis. The Kansas City Missouri Health Department said they've alerted nearly 400 daycare centers throughout the metro.
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