Wayanad (Kerala) | Two students of Mar Baselios AUP School here tested positive for Shigella infection, Kerala Minister T Siddique said on Monday.
The state agriculture minister and MLA of Kalpetta told reporters that a high-level meeting would be convened on Tuesday to assess the situation and review measures to prevent further spread of the disease.
Considering the possibility of transmission, health authorities have issued precautionary advisories to those who had come into contact with the affected children, he said.
Shigella, or shigellosis, is a bacterial infection that affects the digestive system, particularly the intestines. It is caused by a group of bacteria known as Shigella.
The bacteria can enter the body through contaminated food or water and lead to diarrhoea.
It is a highly contagious disease and can affect both toddlers and adults.
Siddique said the health minister would visit the district on Tuesday to directly assess the situation and review the response measures on the ground.
Health Minister K Muraleedharan told reporters in Thrissur that 25 students are currently admitted to Sultan Bathery Taluk Hospital, and none of them is in serious condition.
Speaking separately in Thrissur, he said a medical team from Kozhikode has been deployed in Wayanad to assist local health authorities.
“Some students are also undergoing treatment in private hospitals. There are around 800 students in the school,” he said.
The minister said students who had already been discharged from hospitals were also being monitored.
“Currently, there is no cause for concern. However, we must remain cautious about this disease. Directions have been given to the food safety commissioner to conduct inspections across the state,” he said.
Muraleedharan said Shigella spreads primarily through contaminated water and poor hygiene.
“Currently, the situation is under control. Directions have been given to medical officers in all districts to take precautionary measures and closely monitor the situation. The disease can spread in unhygienic conditions,” he said.
He added that Shigella infections mostly affect children.
“Instructions have been issued to closely monitor people presenting symptoms of Shigella infection. Directions have also been given to ensure adequate stocks of medicines,” he said.
A four-year-old child had recently died due to Shigella infection in Kozhikode.
Apart from Wayanad and Kozhikode, Shigella cases have also been reported in Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts.
Wayanad district collector and the district medical officer held a meeting earlier in the day to review the situation and coordinate preventive measures.
Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday urged the government to take urgent, war-footing measures to prevent the spread of Shigella infections in the state.
In a statement, Vijayan said heightened vigilance was necessary as cases of Shigella infection were being reported from various districts.
He said the health department and local self-government institutions should jointly formulate and implement preventive measures to contain the spread of the disease.
The opposition leader called on the government to urgently ensure the quality of drinking water sources and intensify sanitation and cleaning activities.
He also urged the public to extend full cooperation to the efforts of the health department.
Vijayan said both government agencies and the public should take necessary precautions in view of the possibility of further spread.
He noted that the Shigella bacteria primarily spread through contaminated water and food, and that diarrhoea, fever, abdominal pain, and vomiting are among its major symptoms.
“As children are more vulnerable to the disease, special attention is required. Anyone showing symptoms should seek medical assistance at the nearest health centre without delay,” he said.
Vijayan also called on the government and the health department to strengthen preventive measures and ensure adequate facilities in hospitals.
He said the spread of the disease could be effectively controlled through preventive measures and scientific treatment.
Kochi | The Kerala health department urged people to remain cautious after a 70-year-old man died of West Nile fever in Ernakulam district.
The deceased was identified as Muraleedharan, a native of Kadangalloor near Aluva, who died while undergoing treatment on Monday, officials said.
It was the second death due to West Nile fever reported in the district within the past week, they said.
Following the incident, the health department issued an advisory urging the public to take precautions against the mosquito-borne disease.
In a statement, the department said the disease is caused by a flavivirus commonly found in migratory birds and is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes.
It clarified that the disease does not spread from person to person and that preventing mosquito bites is the most effective way to avoid infection.
According to health authorities, symptoms may include fever, high body temperature, stiffness of the neck, behavioural changes, confusion, semi-consciousness, or loss of consciousness.
The statement warned that severe infection could affect the nervous system and lead to conditions such as encephalitis and meningitis.
Encephalitis is a neurological condition characterised by acute inflammation of the brain.
Meningitis is a condition in which the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord become inflamed. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, or non-infectious conditions.
People experiencing symptoms have been advised to seek immediate medical attention.
“Elderly persons, those with low immunity, individuals with underlying illnesses, pregnant women, and children have been identified as high-risk groups requiring special attention. Culex mosquitoes, which breed in stagnant and polluted water bodies, drainage channels, septic tanks, marshy areas, paddy fields, and overgrown vegetation, are the primary carriers of the disease,” the statement said.
Mosquitoes can also breed in discarded tyres, containers, and other places where water accumulates, it added.
The district medical officer urged the public to follow mosquito-control measures, including eliminating breeding sites, preventing water stagnation, covering water storage containers, cleaning tanks regularly, using mosquito nets, and installing screens on doors and windows.
People have been advised to wear light-coloured clothes that cover the arms and legs, especially during early morning and evening hours when mosquito activity is high, and to use mosquito repellents.
Authorities stressed the importance of keeping surroundings clean, removing overgrown vegetation, and carrying out source-reduction activities in areas with stagnant water.
The statement warned that failure to eliminate mosquito breeding conditions in and around homes could attract penalties under the Public Health Act.
