Bacteria in the Shigella genus cause the disease shigellosis. The symptoms of shigellosis include diarrhea, fever, and intestinal cramping. The disease is unpleasant, but most people recover within a week. Shigellosis is transmitted from one person to another through bodily wastes. You can catch shigellosis from a baby when changing its diaper. People also catch the disease by drinking contaminated water. The best way to avoid shigellosis is through frequent hand-washing with soap. Shigella bacteria can survive on a fly’s body for up to 24 days. Suppose that a fly lands on waste from an infected person. That fly could then spread bacteria on everything it lands on for almost a month!

How do bacteria survive for so long during harsh conditions until finding a host?
A. They store up fat and hibernate until conditions improve.
B. They feed each other so that every bacterium has a little food.
C. They have ribosomes where food is made.
D. They form an endospore with thick walls and await better conditions.