Shigella outbreak at Mar Baselios School in Wayanad may have spread through contact; will receive report within two days, says Minister

KOZHIKODE: Health Minister K. Muraleedharan on Thursday said that the Shigella outbreak at Mar Baselios School in Koliyadi is suspected to have spread through contact transmission. He said the situation is currently under control and that a detailed report on the outbreak is expected within the next two days. Concerns are growing that the outbreak may have entered a second phase. Earlier, symptoms were reported only among students and teachers at the school. However, suspicion of wider transmission arose after some relatives of infected children also began showing symptoms.

The minister also announced plans to increase the number of nursing posts at the Super Speciality Wing of Kozhikode Medical College. Twelve MLAs have agreed to provide ventilator facilities using funds from their constituency development allocations. The minister said he would directly seek support from MLA Riyas as well.

The minister also announced that the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at the hospital will be shifted to the third floor. Immediate steps will be taken to begin repair work on the Cochlear Implantation building. The government has also initiated efforts to secure funding for a virtual autopsy facility. In addition, the Kozhikode Beach General Hospital will be upgraded on the lines of the General Hospital in Ernakulam. The minister said that additional funds will be requested from the Finance Department to support these projects.