MORE ON THE GLOBAL BURDEN OF SHIGELLOSIS

Abstract

The article “Shigellosis outbreaks-an update” by Gabriela Loredana Popa and Mircea Ioan Popa provides an overview of recent shigellosis outbreaks worldwide after scrutinizing ProMed communications of the last years [1]. A special review section is dedicated to Shigella spp. associated outbreaks in the European region. As background, the authors reiterate the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the disease. The paper highlights the continuing burden of shigellosis worldwide including the rise of antibiotic-resistant Shigella isolates and the emerging epidemic transmission of multi-drug resistant Shigella spp. among MSM communities. The authors recommend that shigellosis should not be neglected in the global efforts to prevent and control infectious diseases of public health importance. The comments below reinforce the message of this review with additional evidence from recent studies on the importance of Shigella as the leading cause of moderate to severe diarrhea (MSD) and dysentery globally and on the urgent need for licensed vaccines to reduce the burden of shigellosis primarily in children under 5 years of age in lowand-middle-income-countries (LMICs).