Shelter workers raise alarm as severe stomach bug hits Montreal's homeless population

Résumé détaillé

A severe stomach bug has spread through Montreal's homeless population, raising concern among shelter workers who say not enough is being done to contain it.

A severe stomach bug has spread through Montreal's homeless population, raising concern among shelter workers who say not enough is being done to contain it.

Shigella infection, also known as shigellosis, leads to diarrhea, stomach cramps and fever.

Its spread can be prevented by simple hygiene, such as handwashing, but the bacterial infection is affecting some of the city's homeless population, who don't often have access to clean water and washrooms.

One worker at the Old Brewery Mission, one of the city's largest shelters, said they don't believe the measures in place at the site are sufficient. They have reported the situation to the province's workplace safety board.

"Employees are not confident it's being taken seriously enough," said the person, whom CBC agreed not to identify out of concern for their job security.

Michelle Patenaude, executive director of CAP Saint-Barnabé, which operates three shelters in eastern Montreal, said her organization has been taking precautions to curb the spread of the bacteria. At one point, Patenaude said she was forced to restrict access to some services.

"We welcome particularly vulnerable people daily, in collective environments where infection prevention is a major challenge," she said in an email. "Nobody is taking this situation lightly."

Julien Montreuil, head of L'Anonyme, a group that works with people in encampments, said he believes the situation is under control for now. But he said that, for people who live in tents, even the basic hygiene advice from public health officials "can sometimes be complicated."

The problem was first flagged by health authorities in September, and then again in October.

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