Shigella is primarily transmitted through:

• A. Fecal-oral contact, including handling infected stools and contaminated water.
• B. Airborne respiratory droplets.
• C. Contaminated dairy products only.
• D. Contact with contaminated soil only.

Answer: (A)

Shigella is transmitted primarily through the fecal-oral route. The bacteria are shed in feces, and illness occurs when someone ingests small amounts of contaminated material, often due to poor hand hygiene after using the bathroom or diaper changes and then handling food, utensils, or water. Because Shigella has a low infectious dose, even minimal contact with contaminated hands, surfaces, or water can lead to infection, which is why outbreaks frequently pop up in settings with close contact and inadequate sanitation, like daycare centers.

The other transmission routes aren’t the main pathways for Shigella. Airborne droplets are typical for certain respiratory infections, not Shigella. Contaminated dairy products can be a vehicle for various pathogens but aren’t the primary route for Shigella. Contaminated soil can pose a risk in some contexts, but soil contact alone is not the primary mode of transmission for this organism.