After a big spike in cases of an infectious diarrheal disease, Kansas City, Missouri, health officials have urged residents to take precautions. According to the city's health department, generally, about 10 Shigellosis cases are reported in a year in Kansas City, but over 150 cases have been reported so far in 2015. Most of the cases were reported from children in day care and elementary schools.

A group of bacteria called Shigella leads to Shigellosis. Between January 1 and July 1, 16 cases were reported but since July, over 134 additional cases have been reported. A spokesman for the Kansas City, Missouri Health Department said the reasons for the spike are yet unclear.

Health department spokesman Bill Snook, said, “We really don't have any idea why. We know that the Shigella pattern is that we usually have an outbreak every five years”.

Keeping in mind this year’s outbreak, the department has urged for strong preventative measures to fight a number of antibiotic-resistant strains of the bacteria.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms usually start seeing a couple of days after exposure. The symptoms include diarrhea, fever and abdominal pain.

Transmission of Shigella takes place by direct or indirect fecal-oral contact. It can be transmitted from improper hygiene at the time of food preparation or via infected water in pools and lakes.

The spread of Shigella and other contagious illnesses can be prevented by thorough hand-washing with soap and warm water.

Shigellosis, also known as bacillary dysentery or Marlow Syndrome, in its most severe manifestation, is a foodborne illness caused by infection by bacteria of the genus Shigella. Shigellosis rarely occurs in animals other than humans.

Shigella can be transmitted through food, including salads (potato, tuna, shrimp, macaroni, and chicken), raw vegetables, milk and dairy products, and meat.