Shigella outbreak among attendees of Esoteric festival in Donald, Victoria
Officials with the Victoria Department of Health reports a Shigella gastroenteritis outbreak among people at the Esoteric festival in Donald from 8 to 12 March 2024.
At least 230 people who attended the psychedelic festival have reported experiencing symptoms of Shigellosis.
Health officials say additional patrons and staff who are returning to locations within Victoria and inter-state may develop symptoms in the coming days.
'People who attended Esoteric Festival who have symptoms should get tested for Shigella with a stool sample,' said Victoria's Chief Health Officer, Ben Cowie.
Shigellosis is a bowel infection characterized by an acute onset of diarrhea (which may be watery or contain traces of pus, mucous or blood), fever, nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps. It is usually a self-limiting infection, however severe illness and complications can occur in certain at-risk individuals, such as young children, older people and those who are immunocompromised.
Shigella gastroenteritis is highly contagious and is mainly transmitted through the fecal-oral route, or contaminated food. It may also be transmitted during sexual contact, especially oral sex and oro-anal sex. Symptoms usually develop one to three days following exposure but can occur as early as 12 hours to as late as one week afterwards in some cases.
People are infectious while the Shigella bacteria continue to be shed in feces. This can last for up to four weeks after symptoms resolve.
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Recommendations for attendees of the festival include:
If you have gastroenteritis symptoms, do not prepare food or provide personal care for others until 48 hours after symptoms resolve and practice safer sex practices.
It is very important that people with Shigellosis who work as food handlers, childcare workers, healthcare workers, and people who work in a residential facility such as aged care facilities, disability group homes, prisons, and other residential facilities get tested and diagnosed and provided advice about when it is safe to return to work by their Local Public Health Unit.
Good hygiene can prevent the spread of Shigella gastroenteritis. Wash your hands often and thoroughly, especially after using the toilet and before eating or preparing food.
People who have been diagnosed with Shigella gastroenteritis should abstain from sex while symptomatic and for two weeks after symptoms completely resolve. For a further week use barrier protection (such as condoms and dams) during sex. Shower and wash hands before and after sex.