Thiruvananthapuram combats Shigella spread: Contaminated drink seized from Kattakkada bakery following local infection

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Food Safety Department has intensified its crackdown on unhygienic food outlets in the capital following the detection of Shigella bacteria in a beverage sample collected from a local bakery. The contaminated sample, an orange-colored carbonated drink manufactured in-house, was seized from an establishment in Kattakkada and subsequently tested at the Government Laboratory in Vanchiyoor.
Health officials confirmed that the bakery has been temporarily shut down. Because the beverage was produced locally, authorities note that its distribution remained limited, preventing a wider outbreak from the source. The inspection drive was launched immediately after a Kattakkada resident tested positive for the infection.
The capital district has witnessed a sudden spike in cases, with another resident testing positive recently. This follows a string of cases reported from Thonnakkal, Chacka, and Puthukurichy, where three children were diagnosed. The Health Department has confirmed that the infected children are currently in stable condition. The resurgence of Shigella in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam comes on the heels of earlier outbreaks in Kozhikode and Wayanad, prompting statewide vigilance.

Public health experts have warned that the monsoon season significantly exacerbates the spread of the bacteria, which primarily transmits through contaminated food and water. Runoff from heavy rains frequently carries waste into unprotected domestic wells and drinking water sources, compromising water safety. Additionally, consumption of food handled by infected individuals poses a high risk of transmission.
The Health Department has urged the public to strictly avoid food prepared in unhygienic environments. Food safety officials have also been directed to conduct rigorous inspections at hotels, street-food stalls, and school canteens to ensure that only chlorinated and purified water is utilized for cooking and drinking purposes.

Shigella symptoms typically manifest within 24 to 48 hours of exposure. While a healthy individual may recover within five to seven days, the infection can take a severe turn in young children and individuals with compromised immune systems.
The primary clinical signs of the infection include high fever, severe abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and the presence of blood or mucus in the stool. Patients may also experience a painful, persistent urge to defecate, alongside inflammation of the colon. In advanced and severe cases, the infection can trigger critical complications such as rectal prolapse, acute anemia, a drastic drop in platelet counts, kidney failure, and damage to the central nervous system.
Medical authorities advise immediate consultation if individuals exhibit prolonged gastrointestinal distress during the current rainy season.