Shigella Outbreak Highlights Urgent Hygiene Gaps in South Island’s Unhoused Community

Shigella Outbreak Raises Alarm in South Island’s Unhoused Community

In early December 2025, Island Health reported a concerning outbreak of shigellosis—a highly contagious intestinal infection—within the unhoused community on South Island. The culprit: Shigella, a bacteria that thrives in environments where sanitation is compromised, spreading through contaminated food, water, surfaces, or direct contact. For many living rough, these conditions are daily realities.

Underreported Cases and Escalating Concerns

Five probable cases have been officially identified so far, but health authorities caution that this number is likely just the tip of the iceberg. Incomplete reporting and limited testing mean the true extent of the outbreak remains obscured. Island Health’s statement to local outlet CHEK underscored the uncertainty: “More test results and investigations are underway, and not all illnesses are reported to health care providers.” The silence in the data points to deeper issues—many unhoused individuals lack access to healthcare, making them invisible in the official count.

Nicole Mucci, spokesperson for the Union Gospel Mission, described how her outreach team has encountered severely ill people in encampments across the lower Island. “We’re seeing individuals who are incredibly sick and are forced to move between municipalities in search of basic services,” she said. For many, even the simple act of washing hands is a luxury.

Symptoms, Spread, and Systemic Challenges

Shigellosis manifests as fever, diarrhea (sometimes with blood or mucus), stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and an urgent need to pass stool. These symptoms, while distressing, are compounded by the lack of sanitation infrastructure available to the unhoused. Without reliable access to toilets or washing facilities, the risk of transmission climbs sharply.

The City of Victoria’s recent appearance in court—arguing it is not responsible for providing public washrooms to the homeless—highlights the policy gaps that underpin the crisis. When asked about changes to city policy in response to the outbreak, city officials deferred to Island Health’s recommendations, with spokesperson Colleen Mycroft stating, “We rely on Island Health to determine escalated responses.”

Island Health, meanwhile, confirmed ongoing collaboration with the city and other partners to improve long-term sanitation and hygiene measures. But for those on the ground, such promises feel distant. Outreach teams are left to manage a crisis whose roots run deeper than any single outbreak.

A Widening Problem: Drug-Resistant Shigella and Past Outbreaks

The current outbreak is not isolated. Similar incidents have surfaced across British Columbia and Canada, including a notable outbreak in Vancouver’s Downtown East Side four years ago. This year alone, shigella has surfaced in Toronto and continues to trouble Edmonton, where 447 cases have been reported since August 2022—309 of which required hospitalization, according to Alberta Health Services.

Adding another layer of complexity is the rise of drug-resistant Shigella strains, a trend observed not just in Canada, but also in Europe, Australia, and the United States. Dr. Aleksandra Stefanovic, a clinical professor at the University of British Columbia, notes that while cities like Seattle and Vancouver have seen sporadic cases, the threat of drug resistance is growing. Should these strains take hold in vulnerable communities, the consequences could be severe.

Tracing the Outbreak and Looking Ahead

Island Health is investigating potential links between the current South Island outbreak and an incident in the Cowichan Valley from September. Each new case raises questions: How widespread is the infection? What steps are being taken to protect those most at risk?

For Mucci and others on the front lines, the shigella outbreak is more than a medical emergency—it is a stark reminder of systemic neglect. “The reality is, this is not just about one bacteria. It’s about the lack of access to hygiene and sanitation, and how our systems fail the most vulnerable,” Mucci said.

Efforts are underway to bolster sanitation, but the pace of change remains slow. Health officials urge the public to remain vigilant: practicing hand hygiene, reporting symptoms, and supporting measures that address the root causes of outbreaks.

A Community’s Response and the Road Ahead

The outbreak has reignited debates over the responsibilities of municipalities and health agencies. While the City of Victoria points to Island Health for leadership, the underlying issue—ensuring basic hygiene for all—remains unresolved. As the investigation continues, advocates are pressing for more public washrooms, washing stations, and healthcare outreach.

Ultimately, the shigella outbreak is a mirror held up to society, reflecting the gaps in our collective safety net. The coming weeks will test not only the resilience of health systems, but also the willingness of communities to confront uncomfortable truths about homelessness and public health.

Assessment: The shigella outbreak on South Island exposes a critical intersection between public health and social policy. While the immediate focus is on containing the infection, the facts reveal a deeper systemic failure: without adequate sanitation and healthcare access, vulnerable populations remain at risk—not just from shigellosis, but from a host of preventable illnesses. Addressing these gaps requires more than reactive measures; it demands a sustained commitment to dignity, equity, and the right to basic hygiene.