r/LGBTnews

Sexually transmitted Shigella diagnoses in England rose to 2,560 in 2025, with gay and bisexual men among those most affected. Now, the UK Health Security Agency have warned of growing antibiotic resistance in key strains. In a UKHSA update on drug-resistant Shigella, the agency said 2025 marked a surge compared to the two years prior, with 2,052 and 2,318 cases reported in 2023 and 2024 respectively. Cases were most commonly found in men who have sex with other men. Shigella is a gut infection which is spread by bacteria found in faeces. It can be transmitted during sex, through direct contact, or via unwashed hands. Symptoms include diarrhoea (sometimes with blood), stomach cramps and fever, with it often mistaken for food poisoning.