A diarrhea-causing superbug is stirring up trouble in Los Angeles.
Each of the cases were found to be carrying an extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strain of the bacteria.
Shigellais a routine source of diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
A 3D illustration of Shigella bacteria© Stephanie Rossow/Science Photo Library via Getty
The germ usually spreads through contaminated food or drink, but it can also be transmitted sexually.
Antibiotics are used to treat severeShigellainfections or to keep infections under control in those at higher risk of illness.
The most concerning strains are extensively drug-resistant, meaning that they can overcome a wide variety of antibiotics.
According to the report, the three cases were detected within a three-month period between 2023 and 2024.
The discovery of a novel XDRS.
sonneiactively spreading in Los Angeles is alarming, they wrote.
Thankfully, the cases themselves were still treatable or otherwise cleared up on their own.
One person did develop a severe infection and ended up in intensive care as a result.
Still, the emergence of XDRShigellain the U.S. and worldwide is a serious and growing public health concern.
Last year, scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Preventionissueda public health advisory over the superbug.
Given these latest cases, the problem has likely only worsened since then.
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