Published Jun 09, 2026 | 11:11 AM ⚊ Updated Jun 09, 2026 | 11:13 AM
Representational image. Credit: iStock
Synopsis: Kerala is on high alert as Shigella infections rise, with 93 confirmed cases and two deaths reported statewide till 8 June, 2026. Wayanad schools and Kozhikode hospitals have seen clusters, including child fatalities. Health authorities urge strict hygiene, safe drinking water, and vigilance, while officials intensify surveillance and food safety checks to contain the highly contagious bacterial outbreak.
Kerala is grappling with a surge in Shigella infections, with 93 confirmed cases and two deaths reported statewide till 8 June, 2026. On the same day alone, eight fresh cases emerged across Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur.
In Wayanad, two schoolchildren from Mar Baselios School tested positive after hundreds of students reported vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach pain. Of 339 symptomatic children, 59 remain hospitalised, while test results for 19 samples are awaited.
Kozhikode has intensified surveillance after a four-year-old girl died of shigellosis, with two more pediatric cases confirmed at the Government Medical College Hospital. Earlier in March, another child succumbed to the infection.
Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan has urged urgent preventive measures, stressing sanitation, safe drinking water, and vigilance in schools. Health Minister K Muraleedharan directed food safety checks at eateries and called for local body involvement in maintaining hygiene.
Authorities have advised strict handwashing, consumption of boiled water, and immediate medical attention for symptoms such as diarrhoea, fever, and dehydration, as the state battles to contain the highly contagious bacterial infection.
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Kozhikode district has stepped up health surveillance measures after a four-and-a-half-year-old girl succumbed to shigellosis, while two more infections were confirmed in children undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College Hospital.
The deceased child, Nila, daughter of Babeesh from Thalakkulathur, had been admitted to the medical college hospital earlier this week with severe gastrointestinal symptoms.
Health officials said laboratory tests conducted on Friday confirmed the presence of Shigella bacteria.
Despite intensive treatment, the child died on Saturday, triggering concern among health authorities over the spread of the infection in the district.
Following the death, two additional pediatric cases were confirmed at the Institute of Maternal and Child Health (IMCH) attached to the medical college.
The infected children include a two-year-old boy from Pantheerankavu and a 10-year-old boy from Purameri. Both are under medical supervision, officials said.
The latest developments have prompted the district health administration to intensify monitoring and preventive measures, particularly in areas where cases have emerged. Officials are also tracing possible sources of infection and screening close contacts of the affected children.
According to health department figures, Kerala has reported 10 confirmed cases of shigellosis and one death so far this month, up to June 7.
In addition, four suspected cases are currently under observation in different parts of the state.
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Shigellosis is an intestinal infection caused by Shigella bacteria and is known to spread rapidly, especially among young children. Medical experts say children below five years are the most vulnerable, although the disease can affect people of any age.
The infection commonly spreads through contact with contaminated hands, food, water or surfaces exposed to infected stool. Poor hygiene practices, contaminated drinking water and unsafe food handling are among the major causes behind transmission.
Doctors say the disease usually presents with diarrhea, which may at times contain blood, along with fever, abdominal cramps and vomiting. While many patients recover within a week with proper hydration and rest, severe cases may require antibiotic treatment and hospitalization.
Health authorities have urged the public to maintain strict hygiene practices, including regular handwashing, consumption of boiled or treated drinking water, and proper sanitation, to prevent further spread of the infection.
(With inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
