Dysentery outbreak hits Oregon – Newsweek

Oregon has been hit by growing numbers of dysentery in the state over the past few months, as the state recorded 158 cases in Multnomah County in 2024, and 40 confirmed cases in January 2025.

Officials have said they expect there to be far more cases than the reported numbers, as many sick people in the area will not go to the doctor. The outbreaks are largely targeted in Multnomah County, which hosts the capital city of Portland.

Dysentery, known now as Shigella, is highly contagious and spread through infected feces. It can cause severe diarrhea, fever, and fatigue. It can be prevented with handwashing and hand sanitizing.

The City of Portland has been contacted via email for comment.

Why It Matters

Cases of dysentery in Multnomah County have been steadily rising since 2012, but started to rise significantly between 2022-2023, when cases rose from 43 to 96, they then rose again to 158 by the end of 2024, as reported by the Multnomah County Health Department.

The outbreaks have been tied to the homeless population in Portland, as they lack access to necessary sanitary equipment. Portland has one of the nation’s most visible homeless populations as it has a limited number of temporary shelters, and, per a 2023 study from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), “Oregon has frequently reported the highest rate of unsheltered family homelessness in the nation.”

What To Know

Portland declared a homelessness emergency in 2015 in the hope of receiving more funding to build homes and shelters for their homeless population.

However, 10 years later, one in 165 Portland residents will experience homelessness on any given night, and one in four homeless residents of Portland are “chronically homeless,” meaning they have not had a home in more than a year, or have experienced homelessness four or more times in the past three years, according to Impact NW.

The city has a more visible homeless population, approximately 6,000 people per recent estimates reported by Oregon Live, compared to other cities because of its ‘Housing First’ policy, which prioritizes getting people experiencing homelessness into permanent homes, rather than temporary shelters, per Portland’s Travel Portland site.

Housing in Portland is limited and real estate prices are high, making it difficult for the city to meet the demands of people seeking homes.

The number of people on the street, and the lack of public facilities to keep clean, has led to several outbreaks of dysentery within the population.

One major contributing factor to the rise of dysentery is the lack of public restrooms in Portland.

According to reporting from the Oregonian/Oregon Live, there are only 116 public restrooms in Portland, including park bathrooms which are locked over the winter months due to pipes freezing, and library bathrooms which are only accessible during the day.

Infections have now spread to workers cleaning restrooms used by the homeless population, as many people who already have dysentery are not going to the hospital, and are continuing to use restrooms in homeless shelters.

What to Do if You Suspect You Have Dysentery

Oregon has been tied to dysentery historically due to the video game Oregon Trail, a classic educational video game first released in 1971, became widely popular for teaching players about the hardships of 19th-century pioneer life through resource management, decision-making, and the infamous challenge of avoiding dysentery.

This time around, people cannot just start their level again.

Dysentery symptoms appear within one to two days and can last up to a week. In severe cases, dysentery can be fatal, particularly for high-risk groups such as young children, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems.

What to Do:

The following was compiled from the World Health Organization (WHO), Mayo Clinic, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

• Hydration: Drink plenty of fluids or oral rehydration solutions (ORS) to prevent dehydration (WHO).

• Rest & Diet: Get adequate rest and eat bland, easy-to-digest foods while avoiding dairy and spicy items.

• Seek Medical Help If: You experience severe dehydration, persistent vomiting, bloody diarrhea, or symptoms lasting over a week (Mayo Clinic).

Who Is at Risk?

• Young children are especially vulnerable due to their developing immune systems.

• Elderly individuals may struggle to recover due to weakened immunity.

• People with weakened immune systems (such as those with HIV/AIDS, cancer, or malnutrition) are more likely to experience severe complications (CDC).

Treatment & Prevention:

• Antibiotics/Antiparasitics: Used in severe cases under medical guidance.

• Hygiene & Sanitation: Frequent handwashing, safe food and water consumption, and proper sanitation help prevent infection (WHO).

Early intervention is crucial, especially for high-risk individuals, to prevent complications or death.

What People Are Saying

J. W. Mosher who cleans toilets in the Clark Center, a residential program in Southeast Portland for men involved in the Multnomah County community justice system, told The Oregonian/Oregon Live: “They really need to put something up on the wall that says, ‘Hey, if you have diarrhea, you need to go to hospital. I don’t know if they’ve had a meeting and told everybody that, because this is a 90-bed facility, and we’re all packed in there, kind of tight.”

Dr. Amanda Risser, a senior medical director for Central City Concern, a Portland-based health care and housing services provider told The Oregonian/Oregon Live: “Any situation where (you are) unable to wash your hands regularly will put you at risk for shigella and I think unsheltered homelessness certainly contributes to people just really not having places to do that.”

What Happens Next

Public health professionals are pushing for better public toilet and cleanliness facilities in the city to reduce the spread of dysentery in the area.

Anyone experiencing symptoms of diarrhea, blood in their stool, fever, and fatigue, should seek medical help. Shigella is contagious for four weeks, so someone with a Shigella diagnosis should refrain from sexual activity, sharing food, or engaging in any other unsanitary activity with others.