Shigella Cases Continue to Rise in Keralam; Six New Cases Confirmed

Thiruvananthapuram: The number of Shigella infections in Keralam continues to increase, with six new cases confirmed today. According to the latest reports, four cases were detected in Kozhikode and two in Malappuram.

Health data indicates that 197 people have been diagnosed with Shigella in June alone, while six deaths have been reported during the period. Since the beginning of the year, the total number of confirmed Shigella infections in the state has reached 273.

The districts reporting the highest number of cases during June are Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Wayanad.

At present, outbreak status has been declared in four districts: Kozhikode, with 69 reported cases; Wayanad, with 26 cases; Thrissur, with 13 cases; and Alappuzha, with 5 cases. In addition, June case counts reported from other districts include 32 cases in Malappuram, 18 in Thiruvananthapuram, 13 in Kollam, 11 in Kannur, 4 in Ernakulam, and 3 cases each in Idukki and Palakkad.

Shigella is a bacterial infection that commonly spreads through contaminated food, water, or poor hand hygiene and typically causes diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. Public health measures usually focus on sanitation, safe drinking water, and early detection to limit further spread.