Health Officials Investigating Spike in Infection

Health officials in a South Texas county are investigating a recent increase of an infectious disease that causes diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps.

The Corpus Christi Caller-Times reports the spike prompted the Corpus Christi-Nueces County Health Department to issue an alert Monday.

Local doctors have reported about 60 cases of shigellosis this year, most in children under 2 years old.

The health department says this figure is 10 times the number of people diagnosed in the county last year with the illness.

Dr. William Burgin, with the health department, says three day care centers that have been inspected have checked out.

The disease usually resolves itself within a week and rarely leads to hospitalization, but severe infections with high fevers can cause seizures in children younger than 2.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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