Portland is currently grappling with a highly contagious shigella outbreak, a bacterial infection that spreads through fecal matter and has become alarmingly prevalent among the city’s homeless population. The recent surge in cases has raised significant public health concerns, highlighting the intersection of infectious disease and social issues such as homelessness.
In just the last month, 45 new cases have been reported, bringing the total number of infections in 2023 to an unsettling 218. This uptick in shigella cases is particularly troubling given the bacteria’s mode of transmission—through human feces—which underscores the critical need for proper sanitation and hygiene facilities, resources often inaccessible to the homeless and certain other at-risk groups.
Example of why we're having a shigella outbreak in portland:
This person just pulled over in a vehicle with no plates and used the street as a toilet.
I wasn't going to photograph it, but the guy I was talking to said people should see it. So here you go. pic.twitter.com/7NdnhNY9BF
— garbage GHOST⚡️ (@cocainemichelle) January 1, 2024
The local health authorities have identified homeless individuals and same-sex male partners as the demographics most vulnerable to this outbreak. The lack of access to clean and private restrooms, handwashing stations, and soap contributes significantly to the spread of the infection, which can result in symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps lasting from a few days up to two weeks.
One individual who experienced the illness firsthand described the ordeal as “horrible,” with symptoms including uncontrollable diarrhea that necessitated isolation and significantly impacted daily life. This personal account serves as a stark reminder of the human toll behind the statistics and the urgency of addressing the outbreak.
Remember, when you're purchasing your groceries it's a small portion of the city affected by the Shigella outbreak in Old Town.
Just like with the riots not affecting anyone because after all… "it was just a 3-block area they "protested in." pic.twitter.com/3BzFeba8hK— Rumble Dumbs (@SusanGriffin530) December 31, 2023
Efforts to combat the spread of shigella include relocating infected individuals into motels to facilitate isolation and provide them with the necessary amenities to maintain hygiene. This strategy aims to prevent the further spread of the bacteria, especially in communal settings like shelters, where the risk of transmission is high.
Despite these measures, the outbreak has not shown a clear geographic pattern, suggesting that while it may be concentrated in areas with higher homeless populations, such as Old Town, it is not confined to any single location within Portland. This indicates a broader issue that requires comprehensive solutions beyond temporary housing.
The shigella outbreak in Portland is a reflection of a larger, ongoing crisis. The city’s struggle with homelessness has been exacerbated by the pandemic, economic downturns, and a shortage of affordable housing. As a result, public health issues that are typically associated with developing countries are now surfacing in urban American centers.
To effectively address the current outbreak and prevent future ones, there must be a concerted effort to improve access to hygiene facilities, increase public health education, and provide more support for the homeless community. Only through a multifaceted approach that tackles both the symptoms and the underlying causes can Portland hope to overcome this public health challenge and protect its most vulnerable residents.
