Shigella Health Alert for Gay, Bisexual, Men Who Have Sex with Men (GBMSM)
Last updated: February 13, 2026
Shigella outbreaks have been reported by Toronto Public Health amongst gay, bisexual,
men who have sex with men (GBMSM)
What is Shigella?
Shigella are bacteria (germs) that cause diarrhea. It is mostly found in feces (poop) or in
food or water that is contaminated by a person who has the disease. Shigella bacteria
cause an infection called shigellosis.
Shigella infection (shigellosis) is a common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis in Canada
and worldwide.
For more information, check out our info sheet.
