At Chijos News, we cover health stories with honesty, cultural awareness, and real-life context for the diaspora. Conversations around sexual health are often avoided in many communities, yet they are essential to wellbeing, relationships, and long-term health. By breaking stigma and sharing clear, factual information, we aim to empower readers to make informed decisions and take control of their health without fear or shame.
Health officials in England are raising fresh concerns as cases of sexually transmitted Shigella continue to rise, alongside a worrying increase in antibiotic resistance.
According to new data released by the UK Health Security Agency, there were 2,560 diagnoses recorded in 2025. This marks a steady increase from previous years, showing that the infection is not only persisting but becoming more difficult to treat.
For many people, Shigella is not a familiar name. It is a gut infection caused by bacteria that spread through very small amounts of contaminated faecal matter. While it is often associated with poor sanitation or food contamination, it can also be transmitted during sex, particularly through close physical contact or inadequate hygiene.
The infection is currently most common among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. Within this group, transmission has remained consistently high in England, especially in urban areas such as London where diverse and mobile communities intersect.
Symptoms can appear quickly, usually within a few days. For some, it may feel like a typical case of food poisoning at first, with diarrhoea, stomach cramps, and fever. In more severe cases, symptoms can include blood in stool and prolonged discomfort. Because it is easily mistaken for something less serious, many people may not realise they are dealing with a bacterial infection that can spread to others.
What is making the current situation more serious is the rise in drug resistance. The two most common strains linked to sexual transmission, Shigella sonnei and Shigella flexneri, are showing extremely high levels of resistance to antibiotics. Recent data suggests that the vast majority of tested samples no longer respond to commonly used treatments, with many cases now classified as extensively drug-resistant.
This changes the conversation entirely. While Shigella has often been described as a self-limiting infection that resolves without treatment, that assumption becomes risky when severe cases have fewer effective treatment options available.
For diaspora communities, this is a conversation that can be uncomfortable but necessary. Sexual health is still heavily stigmatised in many African, Caribbean, and Asian households, often treated as something to avoid discussing rather than something to actively manage. That silence can make it harder for people to seek help early or even recognise symptoms when they appear.
There is also a wider health context to consider. People diagnosed with Shigella may have been exposed to other infections, including HIV, making regular sexual health screening an important part of overall wellbeing. In the UK, testing is free, confidential, and increasingly accessible through clinics and home testing kits.
At the same time, health officials are continuing to monitor other sexually transmitted infections. While there has been a slight recent decrease in reported cases of Gonorrhoea and Syphilis, both infections remain at high levels overall. Of particular concern is the emergence of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea, which is becoming harder to treat and poses a long-term public health challenge.
The message from health experts is not about fear, but awareness. Infections like Shigella are preventable, and small changes in behaviour can significantly reduce risk. Hygiene, protection, and regular testing are not just medical advice, they are practical tools for staying healthy and protecting others.
For those who do become unwell, recovery is usually possible with rest, hydration, and care. However, avoiding close contact, including sexual activity, until fully recovered is important to prevent spreading the infection further.
What makes this issue particularly relevant now is not just the rise in numbers, but the combination of high transmission and limited treatment options. It highlights how quickly public health challenges can evolve and why staying informed matters.
At Chijos News, we believe health information should not be hidden behind stigma or complicated language. It should be clear, accessible, and rooted in real life. Because protecting your health is not just personal, it is part of protecting your community too.