Shigella: a tiny bacterium revealing big gaps in one health

Shigella is a microscopic bacterium that continues to pose a major public health challenge, particularly in regions with inadequate sanitation and limited access to safe drinking water. While it is widely recognized as a cause of shigellosis and dysentery, its impact extends far beyond human illness. This article explores Shigella through the lens of the One Health concept, emphasizing the interconnectedness of human, environmental, and ecosystem health. It explains how contaminated water, poor hygiene, overcrowding, and environmental degradation facilitate disease transmission and highlights the increased vulnerability of children and other high-risk populations. The article also discusses the growing threat of multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant Shigella strains, underscoring antimicrobial resistance as a global One Health concern driven by inappropriate antibiotic use and environmental contamination. Rather than focusing solely on treatment, the article advocates for integrated prevention strategies, including improved sanitation, access to clean water, hygiene promotion, responsible antimicrobial stewardship, disease surveillance, and collaborative public health policies. By presenting Shigella as more than just a bacterial pathogen, this article demonstrates how addressing the environmental and social determinants of health is essential for sustainable disease prevention. A coordinated One Health approach offers the most effective path toward reducing the burden of shigellosis and safeguarding public health.