126 Shigella infection cases reported in state: Min

Thiruvananthapuram: As many as 126 Shigella infection cases were reported in state, prompting health authorities to strengthen surveillance and preventive measures, said health minister K Muraleedharan on Sunday. The intensified response follows the death of a four-year-old girl in Kozhikode, state’s first reported fatality from the bacterial infection.

Addressing a news conference, Muraleedharan said three children were admitted to Kozhikode medical college hospital with confirmed Shigella infection. While two recovered and were discharged, Nila, a Thalakkulathur native, died on Saturday while undergoing treatment.

Govt has stepped up preventive measures and surveillance following the fatality in Kozhikode. Public health officials have advised residents to consume only boiled and cooled drinking water, maintain proper hygiene and avoid water from potentially contaminated sources.

Meanwhile, health authorities are investigating reports of gastrointestinal illness among students in Wayanad, wherein 164 students from educational institutions in Sulthan Bathery region reportedly developed symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhoea.

A medical team from Kozhikode medical college was dispatched to the area and samples were collected for detailed examination. Preliminary investigations indicate the cases are not linked to Shigella, although further testing is under way. Water samples from a well and a borewell at the institutions are also being examined.

Initial tests conducted on a tube well at a school, where diarrhoea cases were reported, showed no contamination, while results from another well are awaited, said Muraleedharan.

According to him, 123 Shigella cases were reported in Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta last week, while symptoms associated with the infection were also reported from several parts of Kozhikode.

Shigella is a bacterial infection that affects the intestines and causes symptoms such as diarrhoea, fever and abdominal pain. The disease primarily spreads through contaminated food and water, making hygiene and sanitation critical in preventing outbreaks.

Health department issued strict directives to strengthen food safety measures across the state. Hotels and restaurants have been instructed to provide only safe drinking water, and food safety department has been directed to intensify inspections. Authorities have been asked to ensure chlorination of water sources despite complaints against the taste and smell of chlorine.

Strict action will be taken against establishments operating under unhygienic conditions, including roadside eateries, said Muraleedharan. Hotels, restaurants and food stalls found violating hygiene standards could face closure.

He expressed concern over reports that ice used for preserving fish was being reused for drinking water and food-related purposes at certain establishments. Such practices won’t be tolerated, he said.

Muraleedharan urged local self-govt institutions to take proactive measures to ensure hygiene standards are maintained at restaurants and eateries. Infected individuals, involved in food preparation, could significantly contribute in spreading the disease, he added.