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A highly contagious bacterial diarrhoeal disease called shigellosis (bacillary dysentery), caused by shigella, is being reported across the State now
While all districts are reporting cases sporadically, these are turning into outbreaks in some locations affecting more people because of contaminated food/ water or due to poor hygiene practices. Cases are now being reported from Wayanad, Kozhikode, Alappuzha, and Malappuram.
Two cases were confirmed in children in Mar Baselios School in Wayanad on Monday, where more children are suspected to have been affected.
According to the Health department, 85 confirmed cases and over 70 probable cases of shigellosis have been reported till June 7 this year. While shigellosis is self-limiting in healthy adults, it can be fatal for children under five years, in whom the highest mortality is reported. The elderly and immunocompromised individuals are also highly vulnerable.
Two deaths in children have been reported so far, one in April and the second one on June 6, both from Kozhikode. The department has cautioned the public to be mindful of food and water-related hygiene as well as personal hygiene so that shigellosis does not spread in a locality.
Shigellosis is highly contagious and spreads through food, water, and surfaces contaminated by infected individuals as well as through contact during patient care. Unless hygiene is maintained meticulously, a single infected person can pass on the disease to the entire household through close contact.
Symptoms usually appear within one to two days of infection and include fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea, blood in stools, and painful, frequent urges to use the toilet. The health department also advised people to consume ORS (oral rehydration salts) solution to prevent dehydration and seek treatment immediately. It also advised people that it was extremely important to complete the course of prescribed medication, including antibiotics
A health advisory said hand washing with soap for 20 seconds — by scrubbing between the fingers and under the nails — before cooking, serving food, eating, and after using the toilet was important to prevent the spread of infection.
If there are any shigellosis-affected individuals in a house, their bedlinen, clothes, and utensils in which food is served should all be kept separate. Even after symptoms subside, these people should avoid serving food at public gatherings, sharing food, or visiting restaurants for at least two weeks.
Drinking water should be boiled, whatever be the source, and water which is used for washing vegetables or utensils should be purified using chlorine tablets. Stale food and raw food like salads are best avoided and as far as possible, eat clean home-cooked food.
Establishments selling food and beverages should ensure that food handlers have valid medical certificates and that none of them have the infection. Good hygiene must be maintained in the kitchen and hand-washing stations should be provided for staff. Industrial ice should not be used for making juice or other cold drinks.
Health Minister K. Muraleedharan said the Food Safety department had been asked to strengthen checks and make sure that closure notice is issued to any food outlet or and street vendors found handling food in unhygienic circumstances.
Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan urged the government to adopt urgent preventive measures to contain the spread of shigellosis.
In a statement here on Monday, Mr. Vijayan said with cases being reported from various districts, the situation called for extreme vigilance and that coordinated efforts were required from the Health department and local self-government bodies so that the infection did not spread.
Published – June 08, 2026 08:14 pm IST
