Unfortunately, we are seeing increasing antibiotic resistance.
It's a challenge doctors are facing an outbreak of a
contagious virus.
One person got sent to the hospital after possibly catching
shigella.
Thanks for joining us. Victor Park is live with us
in Southeast Portland.
Victor Three people staying at a shelter may have caught
it.
That's right. In fact, Union Gospel Mission says three people
are showing symptoms consistent with shigella.
They were staying at a shelter hosted by a local
church here on the southeast side of the city,
but one person was taken by ambulance to the hospital.
They say this is much part of a much larger
issue that is spreading through the region.
The last two weeks, and it was.
Literally uncontrollable.
Diarrhea Bobby, our colleague, recalls the horrible experience when he
called Shigella.
I had to be isolated and eat my food alone.
It is one of many measures Multnomah County Health Department
is taking when someone tests positive for the virus.
But staying ahead has been difficult.
Antibiotics are becoming resistant. It does make it difficult to
treat those really severe cases that need antibiotics to help
clear the infection.
The virus has been impacting the homeless.
Mainly because it can be difficult to access restrooms.
You want to go take a shower or whatever or
clean up?
You got to go to one of the resource centers,
but doctors say same sex male couples are also at
risk.
Current disease patterns in Multima County suggest that fecal oral
spread through sexual contact may account for between half and
more than 2/3 of all cases without international travel.
Some, like Artali who is staying in Old Town,
are staying on alert. The only thing I can do
is actually take.
Precautionary measures like I'm doing.
And by the way, Multnomah County health officials say that
those experiencing homelessness are given hotel vouchers to help them
recover and stop the spread of shigella.
As for the general public,
health officials want us to keep doing what we've been
doing since COVID.
Keep our keeping our hands clean and washed.
Reporting live here in Southeast Portland.
I'm Victor Park. K2 News.
Victor, thank you for that.