Kerala Reports Second Shigella Death This Month, 18 New Cases Confirmed

A 59-year-old woman from Malappuram district has died due to a Shigella infection , Kerala’s Health Department confirmed on Friday, marking the second such death in the state this month amid a rising trend of bacterial gastroenteritis cases .

The deceased, identified as Sarojini, had been undergoing treatment at the Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital, where she died on June 9. Laboratory tests later confirmed Shigella infection as the cause of death. With this, the state has reported two Shigella-related deaths this month , in addition to another fatality recorded earlier.

Health officials also reported 18 fresh cases of Shigella across Kerala, taking the total number of confirmed infections this year to 132 , along with 75 suspected cases under observation . The uptick has prompted the state health machinery to intensify disease surveillance and containment measures across affected districts.

According to district-wise data, Wayanad reported seven cases , all among students of a school in Chuliyode, raising the total number of infected children there to 16 . Isolated cases were also reported from Kozhikode (Kattipara, Ulliyeri, Payyoli and Perambra), Malappuram (Edakkara, Morayur and Keezhattur), Thrissur (Wadakkanchery), Kollam (Pozhikara) and Thiruvananthapuram (Navaikulam).

Wayanad District Medical Officer Dr K T Rekha said surveillance, preventive interventions and public awareness activities had been strengthened in the district following the cluster of infections in schoolchildren. She said the condition of all infected children remained stable.

The district administration has already declared a holiday for all schools and educational institutions in affected and adjoining areas until June 14 as a precautionary measure.

Health authorities have advised parents to ensure that children showing symptoms such as diarrhoea, fever and stomach pain avoid contact with others and seek timely medical attention. They have also cautioned against self-medication and stressed adherence to hygiene practices, safe drinking water use, and proper sanitation.