R. Michael Bryan 1st Vice Chair | DeKalb County Republican Party
R. Michael Bryan 1st Vice Chair | DeKalb County Republican Party
The city of Portland, Oregon, is experiencing an increase in dysentery cases, as reported by KOIN News. Recent data from the Multnomah County Health Department indicates a rise in this bacterial disease, also known as shigellosis, which is highly contagious and can cause symptoms such as fever, cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Health officials explain that dysentery spreads easily through person-to-person contact when fecal matter from an infected individual enters another person's mouth. In Oregon, two types of Shigella bacteria are typically found. Although both strains can lead to severe diarrhea, the more dangerous strain has not been observed recently. However, the strains present in Multnomah County show resistance to several antibiotics.
Since 2012, Shigella cases have been increasing in Multnomah County. Data collected between 2017 and 2024 reveals a significant rise in cases from 2023 to 2024. In January 2025 alone, there were 40 reported cases.
The report highlights that nearly 60 percent of recent dysentery cases are linked to the homeless population in the area.
Jeff Eager commented on Twitter about the situation: "For its next trick, Multnomah County, Oregon is rebooting dysentery."
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