Eight days and 25 cases; Fear grips Kerala after surge in Shigella cases

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: 25 people in the state contracted Shigella in the first eight days of November alone. Of these, nine cases are in Malappuram. The infection was confirmed in six individuals in Kozhikode and three in Palakkad. Two cases each have been reported in Thrissur and Kollam, while one case each has been identified in the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Idukki, and Ernakulam. Food served at wedding venues and hotels was identified as the source of transmission.

All nine patients in Malappuram are from Elamkulam Panchayat; two children among them are currently undergoing treatment. On Friday, 13 new cases were confirmed across the state—seven in Malappuram, five in Kozhikode, and one in Thalavoor, Kollam. In September, 32 people had contracted the infection.

Meanwhile, in Meppayur, Kozhikode, over 100 students were taken to the hospital following suspected food poisoning. Medical examinations revealed that 20 of them exhibited symptoms of Shigella. Dr Rajesh, the DMO-in-charge, stated that authorities are now on high alert.

• Number of cases this year: 583

• Deaths: 8

• Number of cases in 2025: 132

Symptoms

• The Shigella bacterium is excreted through the stool of an infected person.

• Water can become contaminated due to open defecation, exposed septic tanks, or wells located near toilets.

• Symptoms include diarrhoea accompanied by fever, the presence of blood or mucus in the stool, severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and fatigue.