Shigella cases continue to grow in Santa Cruz County

As of Monday, there were 37 confirmed cases of shigellosis in the county, primarily in the North County region among individuals experiencing homelessness.

SANTA CRUZ — Numbers are continuing to climb when it comes to a bacterial outbreak that Santa Cruz County public health officials have been battling for weeks.

As of Monday, there were 37 confirmed cases of shigellosis in the county, primarily in the North County region among individuals experiencing homelessness, county Health Officer Lisa Hernandez told the Sentinel. That is an increase of 10 overall cases since late February.

“There are certain conditions that make transmission easier to occur,” said Hernandez, “which has a lot to do with lack of infrastructure. So not having hand washing availability or access to clean toilets.”

Shigellosis is an infection caused by a bacteria called Shigella that is easily spread, with even a tiny amount, by latching on to an individual’s hands, which then touches a food source or the person’s mouth. Other common ways the bacteria, often transmitted through the stool of a sick person, can be spread is by swallowing contaminated water or changing the diaper of a sick child or caring for a sick person.

To support the emergency response and facilitate communication and collaboration among local jurisdictions, the county activated a Level 3 Department Operations Center on Feb. 25, according to Hernandez, which is a relatively low-level response and does not require assistance from sources outside of the county.

Hernandez said the response could escalate to a Level 2 or Level 1 if the outbreak were to become more widespread across the county or if it began to impact local hospitals in a “significant and sustained” way. As of Monday, Hernandez said the county had experienced some hospitalizations as a result of infection — though she did not have an exact number to offer — though hospitalization totals were slowing. No deaths had been reported, she said.

“At this point, the impact to the health care system is fairly low,” Hernandez said Monday. “We continue to monitor its impact, especially Dominican (Hospital) since it is proximate to where most of the cases are coming from.”

Amid the ongoing outbreak, the Santa Cruz chapter of Omega Nu announced on its website that the 34th annual Ducky Derby, a fundraiser for local schools and nonprofits planned for April 27 at Harvey West Park’s Friendship Garden, will not have an in-person component after a request from the city of Santa Cruz. The event will be held virtually on April 27 and information is at duckyderbysantacruz.org. The Santa Cruz Cookout at Harvey West was postponed last month.

Santa Cruz spokesperson Erika Smart told the Sentinel that portable restrooms and hand washing stations have been set up at Friendship Garden to help control the spread of the illness.

Hernandez said other local collaborators such as the Homeless Persons’ Health Project have been “pivotal in this response” and have assisted with health screenings, testing, treatment and distribution of hygiene kits.

According to the county, infection symptoms include diarrhea, stomach pain/cramps and fever. Symptoms typically start a day or two after infection and last for about a week, though the bacteria can sometimes be shed four weeks after symptoms have subsided.

Individuals with poor immune systems can develop life-threatening disease, according to the county, though most people recover without antibiotic treatment.

In addition to settings with limited access to clean restrooms and hand washing stations, Hernandez said multiple studies have suggested that wet weather is associated with increased infection totals.

“All those three elements have been challenges in this outbreak,” said Hernandez. But a recent and ongoing warm-weather spat has helped temper impacts, she added.

“Hopefully with better weather and continued outreach and testing … we’ll see the end of the outbreak,” said Hernandez.

Still, that streak of advantageously dry conditions may soon come to an end, as the National Weather Service has forecast a likely chance of rain beginning late Friday with partly rainy and sunny conditions throughout the weekend in Santa Cruz.

Those experiencing symptoms that resemble shigellosis are encouraged to contact their primary care physician, the county advised. According to Smart, unhoused people with symptoms are being referred to the Homeless Persons’ Health Project at 115A Coral St., Santa Cruz or they can call 831-454-2080.

By the numbers

What: Shigella outbreak.

Confirmed cases: 37 as of Monday.

Where: Primarily in North Santa Cruz County and among people experiencing homelessness.

Those with symptoms are encouraged to contact their primary care provider. Unhoused people with symptoms are being referred to the Homeless Persons’ Health Project at 115A Coral St., Santa Cruz or they can call 831-454-2080.