South Carolina Shigellosis Cases Rise to 165
State health data show 165 shigellosis cases this year, up from 135 over the same period in 2025.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Sexual Health
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South Carolina has recorded 165 shigellosis cases so far this year, compared with 135 during the same period in 2025. Cases peaked in July and have declined since, and there are no shigellosis outbreaks in the state.
Why it matters
Shigella spreads through contaminated food or water, close contact, or sexual activity, and infected people can remain contagious for up to two weeks after symptoms end. The year-over-year increase highlights why hygiene and early testing matter for residents across the state.
South Carolina's 165 cases this year exceed the 135 recorded over the same period in 2025, and most patients are adult men ages 18 to 49. The reason for the increase has not been identified, and the source does not attribute it to a single food or water source.
The details
Shigellosis symptoms include diarrhea, stomach cramps, and fever, typically starting one to two days after exposure and lasting about a week. Swallowing a small amount of shigella germs found in feces can make someone sick, and the bacteria are also estimated to cause 242,000 drug-resistant infections nationally each year.
Timeline
Same period in 2025: 135 shigellosis cases recorded in South Carolina
July: South Carolina shigellosis cases peaked
This year to date: 165 shigellosis cases recorded in South Carolina
Big Picture
South Carolina's year-to-date count sits within the national estimate of roughly 450,000 shigellosis infections a year, which the source cites as the broader burden of the disease. The state figures therefore represent a local slice of a sustained national problem rather than an isolated spike.
Washing hands thoroughly and avoiding contaminated food or water can reduce the risk of catching shigella. Because a person can remain infectious for up to two weeks after symptoms end, anyone with diarrhea, cramps, or fever should consider seeking care and avoid preparing food for others until recovered.
The takeaway
Shigellosis is spread through contaminated food, water, close contact, or sexual activity, so handwashing and early attention to symptoms are practical protections for South Carolina residents.
Further reading
Explore more on Sexual Health to understand how shigella can spread through sexual activity.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Island Packet.
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