Yersiniosis
Reviewed: January 2026
Yersiniosis is a bacterial disease that generally affects the intestinal tract (bowels) caused by the bacteria Yersinia enterocolitica or Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (note: these are different from Yersinia pestis which causes the illness plague). It is a relatively uncommon disease causing an estimated 117,000 illnesses in the United States each year. Most people become infected by eating contaminated food or through contact with a person who has prepared a contaminated food product (such as preparing food that is contaminated and not properly washing hands prior to contact with a child or their bottle/pacifiers/toys).
