A contagious stomach bug is spreading among Montreal’s unhoused population, according to Quebec’s health officials. Montreal’s local health agency, Santé Québec Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal – Universitaire, says 45 cases of shigellosis have been confirmed since August. The health agency told CTV News that approximately 150 cases of shigellosis are typically reported yearly in Montreal. The bacterial intestinal infection is caused by a group of bacteria known as shigella. It can cause severe diarrhea, painful stomach cramps and fever. “It is very important to note that cases are reported in various settings throughout the Montreal area. We are very careful to avoid singling out specific locations,” the local health agency told CTV News. “The situation remains under surveillance, and the Direction régionale de santé publique (DRSP) is already taking targeted action, in partnership with the relevant communities, when cases are reported.” The agency said regional public health officials are working with facilities to ensure that the measures put in place protect both citizens and workers while addressing their concerns. It added that the measures do not restrict access to the care, services, and resources needed by people experiencing homelessness. “We are therefore already in contact with the relevant organizations, and our responses are being adapted as the situation evolves,” the health agency said. However, preventing the spread of infection can be particularly challenging for people without housing, according to a Montreal organization that supports people experiencing homelessness. “It’s a difficult challenge for people experiencing homelessness and trying to stay, safe in this environment, without possibility to isolate as much,” said William Hodgson, spokesperson for the Old Brewery Mission.
