title: Trends in population-based active surveillance for shigellosis and demographic variability in FoodNet sites, 1996-1999.
abstract: Shigella is a common cause of diarrhea in the United States, and accurate surveillance is needed to determine the burden of illness that they cause. Active surveillance for culture-confirmed Shigella infection was done as part of the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet). A total of 4317 cases of shigellosis were reported during 1996-1999 in the original FoodNet surveillance areas. The average annual incidence was 7.4 cases/100,000 population. The incidence was similar during 1996-1998, but it declined in 1999 to 5.0 cases/100,000 population. State-to-state variability was seen in the incidence of shigellosis. Higher incidence was observed in California and Georgia. Shigella sonnei accounted for 70% of the infections, followed by Shigella flexneri (24%). Compared with other age groups, the incidence was highest among children aged 1-4 years of (36.3 cases/100,000 population). Marked demographic differences were observed between infections with S. sonnei and S. flexneri.
authors.affiliation: Oregon Department of Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Epidemiology, Portland, OR 97232, USA. beletshachew.shiferaw@state.or.us
authors.forename: Beletshachew
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shiferaw
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shallow
authors.forename: Ruthanne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marcus
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Segler
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Soderlund
authors.forename: Felicia P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Hardnett
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Van Gilder
mesh_terms: D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D004405:Dysentery, Bacillary / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D005845:Georgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007255:Information Services; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012763:Shigella flexneri; D012764:Shigella sonnei; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology