Jakarta –
A number of Israeli soldiers taking part in the ground offensive in the Gaza Strip suffer from a serious stomach disease called “shigella”, doctors say. What is shigella bacteria and how does it spread?
The disease is thought to spread due to, among other things, poor sanitary conditions and unsterilized food in war zones.
How did Shigella spread among Israeli troops?
Several doctors in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have reported that a group of soldiers deployed in the Gaza Strip are suffering from severe intestinal disease, according to doctor Tal Brosh, Director of the Infectious Diseases Unit at Assuta Ashdod University Hospital.
Tal Brosh said he identified the disease as shigella.
Israeli soldiers may have contracted shigella from food sent by friends and relatives. (Getty Images)
The infected Israeli soldiers underwent isolation and treatment.
Doctor Broch said one of the “obvious causes” of the outbreak was food cooked by Israeli civilians sent to troops in Gaza.
He said the food may have been contaminated with shigella and other dangerous bacteria. The food was not refrigerated during the journey or because it was not completely heated before consumption.
“When soldiers experience diarrhea, the poor sanitary conditions common on the battlefield lead to person-to-person transmission,” he said.
Broch continued that Israeli troops should only be sent dry food such as canned food, biscuits, protein barand nuts.
What is Shigella and what are the symptoms?
Shigella is a type of bacteria that releases toxins and attacks the digestive tract. When it enters the body, this bacteria causes a type of dysentery (inflammation or infection of the intestines) called “shigellosis”.
The symptoms are
prolonged diarrhea that can lead to blood, cramps or severe stomach pain
Those who have poor health or have weakened immune systems due to diseases such as HIV, can suffer from these symptoms for long periods of time.
If left untreated, shigella can cause chronic disease, or even death.
The risk of death is very high when bacteria enter the bloodstream. Children, people with HIV, diabetes or cancer, and people with poor nutrition are very susceptible to infection with this bacteria.
How do shigella spread?
According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), shigella spreads “easily” through direct or indirect contact with the feces (feces) of those who are infected.
This spread can occur due to:
eating food prepared by someone who has shigella drinking water that has been contaminated with feces coming into contact with toilet utensils or other items contaminated with shigella changing the diaper of a child with shigella coming into contact with the feces of an infected person during sex
Shigella is often found among homeless people, international tourists, men who have sex with men, and those with low levels of immunity.
Where in the world is Shigella most commonly found?
The CDC estimates there are between 80 and 165 million cases of shigella each year worldwide, causing about 600,000 deaths.
In 2022, WHO stated that 99% of people infected with shigella will be in low- or middle-income countries.
Most deaths from shigella occur in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, and approximately 60% occur in children under five.
Also read:
Shigella is very common in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia (Getty Images)
A study conducted by scientists from the International Vaccine Institute in South Korea shows that shigellosis is 100 times more common in Asian countries such as Bangladesh, China, Pakistan, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand, than in industrialized countries.
Can Shigella be treated and prevented?
The CDC says that shigella can be prevented by washing your hands frequently, for example:
before cooking or consuming food, after going to the toilet or changing a diaper, before sexual activity
In many cases, this disease can be overcome by drinking lots of water and getting enough rest.
Then, there are five types of antibiotics that are effective in treating this disease.
However, US health officials have identified an antibiotic-resistant strain of shigella bacteria, called Shigella XDR or Shigella sonnei.
The CDC says that by 2022, five percent of shigella cases in the US will be linked to drug-resistant strains.
They called it a “serious public health threat.”
WHO has also noticed an increase in the number of cases associated with the XDR strain in the UK and across Europe since 2020.
Watch the video ‘Jordanian Foreign Minister Accuses Israel of Trying to Empty Gaza’:
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2023-12-11 07:37:34
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