Shigellosis outbreak among Montreal's homeless: 45 cases since late August as shelter workers warn measures fall short

A shigellosis outbreak is spreading among Montreal's homeless population, with Montreal Public Health confirming 45 cases of the bacterial infection among unhoused people since late August. Shelter workers are warning that current measures are not enough to stop it spreading inside shelters.

45 confirmed cases, many drug-resistant

Shigella causes diarrhea, stomach cramps and fever, is highly contagious, and spreads easily person to person — especially in crowded shelter settings with limited sanitation. Montreal typically records about 150 shigellosis cases a year across the entire city; 45 cases in just over two months among the homeless population alone is a sharp rise. Santé Québec issued an advisory on October 26 about a rise in multidrug-resistant shigella cases beginning in September in the city's east end.

Workers say support is lacking; health officials deploy staff to shelters

Workers at shelters including the Old Brewery Mission and CAP Saint-Barnabé say support for containing the outbreak is inadequate, with one worker saying staff "don't feel supported" and reporting concerns to workplace safety boards. Montreal Public Health has deployed staff to affected shelters to reinforce hygiene protocols, but officials stress measures must not restrict access to essential services. Dr. Carl Boodman of the McGill University Health Centre links the outbreaks to inadequate housing and a lack of public sanitation infrastructure; similar outbreaks have been reported in Vancouver, Edmonton and Toronto, with antibiotic resistance a growing problem. Source: CBC News.