The state Department of Public Health issued a warning today about an outbreak of bacterial infections that cause a severe form of diarrhea. The infection, known as shigellosis, has infected nine men in the Los Angeles area whose sexual orientation has been determined, and four of them are gay. Three of the nine were hospitalized and one has died. Another four cases have been identified but the sexual orientation of those men hasn’t been determined.
Symptoms typically start one to two days after exposure. They include diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain and often bloody stools. Shigella is most often spread through contaminated food or sexually via oral-anal contact (rimming). Those with normal and compromised immune systems are at risk. It’s treatable with common antibiotics.
The L.A. LGBT Center issued a statement alerting gay men, who make up 40% of West Hollywood’s population, to the outbreak.
“If you’re a gay or bisexual man with fever and diarrhea, particularly if it’s bloody, you should get immediate medical care,” said Dr. Ward Carpenter, associate chief medical officer at the Center. He added that it’s not uncommon for there to be clusters of Shigella infections among gay men.
The Center offers primary medical care, regardless of ability to pay, and accepts most insurance plans.
@Jimmy. There is no vaccine for Shigella. Its a bacterial infection caused from feces ingestion. All you can do is get some antibiotics to try to clear it up.
Am guessing this site has a mostly gay readership, so the writer was skewing the story to appeal to that. I don’t like it either, if true. Can you imagine other stories written like this? “Poll Taken By Gay Man Shows GOP In Danger Of Losing Senate Seats”
Demographically, the largest, single majority is gay men i think. And yes, ALL should be careful and speak to your healthcare provider about possibly getting the vaccine.
How about saying “Outbreak of Bacterial Infections His L.A. County Men, Including Gay Men.” 4 were gay, but 5 weren’t. There are straight men in WeHo that need to be careful too.. This City seems to forget that even though 60% of the City isn’t gay.