The Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH) released a health advisory on Wednesday, November 15, 2023. Below is a summary.
- The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) identified an increase in the number of shigellosis cases reported during October 2023. This increase was almost twice as large as the 5-year statewide average number of cases during the month of October from 2018-2022 and is particularly prominent in the southeastern region of the state.
- Although it is not clear whether this recent increase includes drug resistant strains, laboratories are encouraged to perform cultures of suspected cases to obtain isolates for antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
- All positive laboratory results for Shigella are required to be reported to the DOH and all positive isolates or specimens are required to be submitted to the DOH Bureau of Laboratories within five workdays of the positive test result.
- If you have additional questions about this guidance, please contact DOH at 1-877- PA- HEALTH (1-877-724-3258) or your local health department.