A concerning outbreak of a highly infectious gastrointestinal illness is currently affecting Calgary’s homeless population, leading to more than a dozen hospitalizations. Shigella, a bacterial infection known for its severe symptoms, has caused significant health concerns among those living in shelters and encampments.
Since the outbreak was declared on June 5, Alberta Health Services (AHS) has reported that 63 individuals have tested positive for shigella. Of these, 28 have been hospitalized, including 16 directly due to the illness and 12 who tested positive while in the hospital for other reasons. Fortunately, no deaths have been reported so far.
Shigella infections are known for their severity. Symptoms include bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, and vomiting. While many recover without medical intervention, serious complications such as severe dehydration and bloodstream infections can occur. The bacteria spread through fecal-oral transmission, making it highly contagious, especially in environments where hygiene practices are challenging.
Dr. David Klassen, a medical officer of health with AHS in the Calgary zone, highlighted the difficulty in controlling the spread of shigella in crowded or unsanitary conditions. “Folks in this population are often needing to congregate in larger groups to have their basic needs met, to access food, to access shelter. And so that’s why we see it spread in this population more readily,” Klassen explained.
To curb the outbreak, AHS is collaborating with shelters to enhance hygiene and sanitation through more frequent inspections and increased disinfection. Environmental public health inspectors are working closely with these facilities to implement effective measures. AHS is also guiding symptom screening, testing referrals, and other preventive actions.
For individuals living in encampments, agencies such as Alpha House are distributing personal hygiene kits containing water, hand sanitizer, wipes, and garbage bags. Adult diapers are also provided to those in need, helping to manage symptoms and reduce the spread of the infection.
Health professionals express significant concern over the situation. Patty Wilson, a nurse practitioner working with vulnerable populations in Calgary, emphasized the challenges faced by those impacted. “Many of the folks that are impacted don’t have a bed to lie down on, tap water to drink and replenish themselves, [or] regular food,” she said.
Wilson advocates for additional measures, such as more public washrooms and hygiene facilities for the homeless population, to mitigate the spread of the disease. “It’s a disease that’s very common in disaster areas — where people do not have regular access to running water, bathrooms, those very basic hygiene facilities that many of us take for granted,” she added.
The situation in Calgary mirrors an ongoing shigella outbreak in Edmonton, which has seen 424 cases and 294 hospitalizations since it began in 2022. The Maskwacis area in the central zone has also reported a limited shigella outbreak, though no connections have been identified between this and the Calgary outbreak.
Dr. Lynora Saxinger, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of Alberta, noted the increasing outbreaks of shigella across North America, particularly in inner-city and crowded environments. “The fact that it’s occurring in a lot of inner-city populations and other crowded circumstances is, in a way, a negative sign of the times to me,” she said.
Despite the efforts to control the outbreak, experts remain concerned about the potential for it to become a long-standing epidemic in Calgary. Dr. Saxinger highlighted the challenges faced in Edmonton and the risk of a similar prolonged outbreak in Calgary if the underlying conditions causing the spread are not addressed.
“It could basically become another long-standing epidemic in Calgary unless they’re able to really get all over it and change the situation that’s causing the risk, which is people living in unsafe, unhygienic circumstances,” she warned.
The shigella outbreak in Calgary’s homeless population underscores the critical need for improved hygiene facilities and support for vulnerable populations. With coordinated efforts from health officials, shelters, and community agencies, there is hope to contain the outbreak and prevent further hospitalizations. However, addressing the root causes of the spread remains essential to ensure the health and safety of all affected individuals.