Drug-resistant Shigella infections rising in the US, with sexual transmission a growing route
Two outlets report that Shigella, a bacterial diarrhoeal infection, is spreading in the US and becoming harder to treat. They differ on who is most affected and on how much to stress sexual transmission.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Shigella, a bacterial infection causing diarrhoea, fever, cramps and vomiting, is reported to be rising in the US, and drug-resistant strains are a growing concern. The IndependentLC “Cases of the highly contagious and often drug-resistant bacterial disease, Shigella, are rising across the U.S.” Read at The Independent ↗ New York PostR “Shigella bacteria infect nearly half a million people in the US every year” Read at New York Post ↗ Left · 1The Independent puts the burden at 450,000 cases and 38 deaths a year, citing the Merck Manuals, and says about 242,000 people a year have drug-resistant strains, citing CDC data. The IndependentLC “There are 450,000 Shigella cases and 38 deaths each year in the U.S., according to the medical Merck Manuals textbook.”“the 242,000 people who have drug resistant strains of Shigella each year, per CDC data” Read at The Independent ↗ Right · 1The New York Post says the CDC reports drug-resistant strains rose from 0% in 2011 to 8.5% in 2023, and that most drug-resistant cases affected adult men. New York PostR “drug-resistant strains of the infection skyrocketed from 0% in 2011 to 8.5% in 2023”“most drug-resistant shigella cases affected adult men” Read at New York Post ↗
Mixed · 2Children under 5 are the group most often infected, and travellers to places with poorer sanitation and people experiencing homelessness are also at higher risk. New York PostR “The population most likely to get infected are children under 5” Read at New York Post ↗ The IndependentLC “People who are homeless and have reduced access to clean water and toilets are also at a higher risk.” Read at The Independent ↗ Right · 1The New York Post says gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men are seeing one of the fastest rises, and that experts call Shigella endemic in these communities. New York PostR “the population that’s experiencing one of the fastest rises in shigella infection are gay and bisexual men, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM)” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1It cites a July study finding that sexual spread grew 15% faster year-over-year between 2015 and 2020 than spread through travel, food or nursery outbreaks. Emerging evidence suggests sex may now be the major route, though this is hard to confirm because patients are rarely asked about it. New York PostR “the spread of the disease through sex grew 15% faster year-over-year between 2015 and 2020”“it’s hard to tell when it’s not asked about when patients show up for medical care” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 1Cambridge geneticist Kate Baker, a lead author of the July study, said the disease has gone from being treatable with off-the-shelf drugs to "close to untreatable" over about a decade. She said multiple overlapping variants are becoming resistant, and that people infected through sex may need different treatment from those infected through travel. New York PostR “This disease has gone from being relatively treatable with off-the-shelf drugs to being close to untreatable over the course of the last decade or so”“you require different treatment to someone who contracted it through travel” Read at New York Post ↗ Left · 1The Independent reports that health department doctors said in April, in a federal report, that white men are now the most susceptible to drug-resistant Shigella infection. It also reports that an "excessively drug resistant" (XDR) strain has been transmitted more over the last decade and has no government-approved oral antibiotic, and that it is unclear how many resistant infections it causes. The IndependentLC “doctors from health departments across the U.S. announced in April that white men are now the most susceptible to infections from drug resistant Shigella”“for which there is no government-approved oral antibiotic” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2Most people recover with fluids and rest, but serious cases may need antibiotics, and for resistant strains the options are limited to a couple of drugs such as ceftriaxone and pivmecillinam. The IndependentLC “Options for treating drug resistant strains are limited to just a couple of drugs, such as ceftriaxone and pivmecillinam.” Read at The Independent ↗ New York PostR “Many cases of shigella resolve on their own within a week, with the help of rest and fluids.” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 1One proposed explanation for the resistance is "bystander resistance", where an antibiotic given for the wrong pathogen gives Shigella the chance to develop resistance. The New York Post says the CDC is urging more attention to prevention strategies. New York PostR “Some experts believe “bystander resistance” might be at play.”“the CDC is urging more attention and development of prevention strategies” Read at New York Post ↗ Mixed · 2Both outlets give the same prevention advice: avoid sex with anyone who has had diarrhoea in the last two weeks. The Independent adds washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before eating, sex or changing a nappy. New York PostR ““don’t have sex with someone who has had diarrhea in the last two weeks.”” Read at New York Post ↗ The IndependentLC “Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before you eat, engage in sexual activity or change a diaper” Read at The Independent ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- The Independent runs a general public-health warning about rising, often drug-resistant Shigella, with sexual transmission as one risk factor among several.
- Emphasis
- Scale of cases and resistance, limited treatment options, the XDR strain, and hygiene steps.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the July study on sexual transmission, the CDC resistance trend from 0% to 8.5%, or the claim that the disease is near untreatable.
- Charged language
- “highly contagious”“excessively drug resistant”
- For example
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“Cases of the highly contagious and often drug-resistant bacterial disease, Shigella, are rising across the U.S.” — The Independent
“The bacteria also spreads during sexual contact that involves the anus, putting men who have sex with men at a higher risk of infection.” — The Independent
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- The New York Post leads on "sexually transmitted diarrhea" becoming a drug-resistant "superbug", in a lively, informal tone.
- Emphasis
- Sexual transmission among men who have sex with men, the July study, and the expert quote that the disease is nearly untreatable.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the XDR strain, the April federal report finding white men most susceptible, or the specific drugs still available for resistant cases.
- Charged language
- “superbug”“close to untreatable”“nasty illness”“uncomfortable doo-doos”
- For example
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“Sexually transmitted diarrhea is on the rise — and it’s morphing into a drug-resistant superbug” — New York Post
“Shigella is a nasty illness that causes more than uncomfortable doo-doos.” — New York Post
What every side reports
- Shigella infects roughly 450,000 or nearly half a million people in the US each year.
- Drug-resistant strains are increasing and limit antibiotic options.
- Children under 5, people experiencing homelessness and men who have sex with men are at higher risk.
- Avoiding sex with anyone who has had diarrhoea in the last two weeks is advised.
Where accounts differ
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Which group is most affected by drug-resistant Shigella
- Left
- Doctors' April federal report found white men are now the most susceptible to drug-resistant infection.
- Right
- Gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men are seeing one of the fastest rises, and most resistant cases are in adult men.
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How untreatable the infection is
- Left
- Treatment options are limited to a couple of drugs, and the XDR strain has no approved oral antibiotic.
- Right
- A Cambridge geneticist says it is "close to untreatable" after a decade of resistance.
North America1 outlet
The New York Post stresses sexual transmission and superbug risk.
“Nowadays, the infection is spreading more through sex — and evolving into something that’s “close to untreatable,” one expert said.” — New York Post
New York Post
UK and Ireland1 outlet
The Independent gives a US-focused public-health overview citing federal data and clinics.
“Cases of the highly contagious and often drug-resistant bacterial disease, Shigella, are rising across the U.S., with dozens of doctors issuing warnings.” — The Independent
The Independent
Left2 articles
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Cases of this diarrhea-causing, drug-resistant infection are rising across the US
Neutral Informational health warning built on CDC, Mayo Clinic and Merck figures, covering all risk groups and prevention steps.
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Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
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Sexually transmitted diarrhea is on the rise — and it’s morphing into a drug-resistant superbug
Alarmist Frames Shigella as a sexually transmitted superbug heading towards being untreatable, with a colloquial tone and focus on men who have sex with men.
- 8 Oct 18:34 First New York PostR Sexually transmitted diarrhea is on the rise — and it’s morphing into a drug-resistant superbug
- 9 Oct 14:18 +19h 43m The IndependentLC Cases of this diarrhea-causing, drug-resistant infection are rising across the US
- 9 Oct 14:56 +20h 22m The IndependentLC Sexually transmitted diarrhea cases soaring in US — and its growing resistant to medicine
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.