Decrease in Shigellosis-related Deaths without Shigella spp.-specific Interventions, Asia

In 1999, a review of the literature for 1966-1997 suggested that approximate to 1.1 million persons die annually of shigellosis, including approximate to 880,000 in Asia. Our recent review of the literature for 1990-2009 indicates that approximate to 125 million shigellosis cases occur annually in Asia, of which approximate to 14,000 are fatal. This estimate for illnesses is similar to the earlier estimate, but the number of deaths is 98% lower; that is, the lower estimate of deaths is associated with markedly reduced case-fatality rates rather than fewer cases. Shigella spp.-related deaths decreased substantially during a period without Shigella spp.-specific interventions. We speculate that non-specific interventions, e.g., measles vaccination, vitamin A supplementation, and improved nutrition, may have led to the reduced number of shigellosis-related deaths.