Public Health - Seattle & King County has received reports of 3 laboratory-confirmed cases of shigellosis associated with North Hill Elementary School in South King County. The onsets of illness were 4/5, 4/6 and 4/17/05. In addition to the confirmed cases, other possible cases have had illness onset as early as 3/28/05. At this time we are investigating the cases and the source of the infections has not been established. The Shigella isolates from the confirmed cases are resistant to ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.

King County healthcare professionals should consider obtaining stool culture and sensitivity studies on all persons presenting with a diarrheal illness compatible with shigellosis, particularly any persons who may have an association with the school or attendees of the school.

Public Health also requests reporting of suspected cases of shigellosis to the Communicable Disease Control, Epidemiology & Immunization Section at 206-296-4774.

Please call the Amy Bode, MD, of the Communicable Disease, Epidemiology & Immunization Section at 206-296-4778 with questions.