European public health officials are monitoring outbreaks related to international travel on long haul flights.
A cluster of 20 genetically linked Shigella Sonnei sequence type (ST) cases was first reported by the UK.
Austria, France, Ireland, and the Netherlands also recorded genetically related cases, suggesting a common cause of infection. There are seven cases in Austria and France each, but Ireland has three and one in the Netherlands.
Ill people reported long-distance trips between continents, including a single, unknown airport, but with different final destinations prior to the onset of the disease.
Of the 38 cases, 29 have recently traveled internationally, travelling to 22 Asian countries, including Singapore, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Four travelled to Africa and three to Australia.
The patient had a day of isolation or onset of illness in January 2025, with the earliest case reported on January 8th, and 23 of the 38 most recent cases on January 17th, were women. Patients range from 15 to 70 years of age.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said that general exposures likely occurred during international transport on flights operating at the same airline or the same catering or airport.
Further cases could arise until the vehicle and source of infection are identified and measures to address it are introduced.
The ECDC said it is monitoring the incident through the Epipulse system and is in contact with EU member states.
A goiter infection can occur when a person ingests food or water contaminated by human feces via objects in contact with infected feces. Secondary infections are common due to their low infectivity.
Incubation period is 1-2 days. Symptoms of disability include diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, and discomfort that can be bloody or prolonged for more than three days.
In 2022, 30 European countries reported 4,149 confirmed cases. Food-mediated transmission was recorded in 394 cases for 578 infectious diseases with information on suspected transmission.
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