UK health authorities are urging Gay and Bisexual men to get tested after a significant rise in drug-resistant Shigella cases.
New data published by the UK Health Security Agency on 26 March shows 2,560 diagnoses of sexually transmitted Shigella in England in 2025 — up from 2,052 in 2023 and 2,318 in 2024. The infection predominantly affects Gay, Bisexual and other men who have sex with men.
Shigella is a gut infection caused by bacteria found in faeces, spread during sex directly or through unwashed hands — with only a tiny amount of bacteria needed to cause infection. Symptoms usually appear within one to four days and include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and fever. It is often mistaken for food poisoning.
The growing antibiotic resistance picture is what makes this data particularly concerning. In 2025, 86% of Shigella sonnei samples and 94% of Shigella flexneri samples tested showed resistance to antibiotics. More than half of Shigella sonnei cases were extensively drug-resistant — meaning treatment options are becoming increasingly limited.
Dr Katy Sinka, Head of STI at UKHSA, said: “The rise in sexually transmitted Shigella cases is concerning, but the risks of catching it can be reduced by good hygiene during and after sex and condom use — helping to protect yourself and your partners.”
Those diagnosed with Shigella should avoid sex until seven days after their last symptom, avoid pools, hot tubs and shared towels, and get a full sexual health screen — including for HIV. Free testing is available at local sexual health clinics or via self-sampling kits by post.
Though this information is currently aimed at MSM in the UK, United States MSM should follow the same guidelines.
