Shigella cases grow to 9 confirmed, 21 suspected in outbreak affecting homeless encampments
Nine people have tested positive and 21 people have suspected cases of Shigella as Santa Clara County’s public health department continues to respond to an outbreak primarily impacting homeless encampments in San Jose, including several along the Guadalupe River. The general public is advised to avoid using the Guadalupe River downstream of Highway 85 and Almaden Expressway “out of an abundance of caution,” Dr. Monika Roy, assistant health officer and communicable disease controller for Santa Clara County, said at a news conference Monday afternoon. People infected with Shigella have reported using the river for hygiene reasons, she said. There are no reported cases along Coyote Creek, but the public health department is continuing to investigate, Roy said. Six of the cases have resulted in hospitalization.