Kerala reports 10 new shigellosis cases; total reaches 196 this year
Ten more cases of shigellosis were reported in Kerala on Friday, bringing the total number of infections this year to 196. The new cases include three from Kozhikode, two each from Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur and Malappuram, and one from Palakkad. Of the total cases, 120 were recorded in June alone, indicating a sharp rise in the bacterial infection during the month.
Shigellosis, caused by Shigella bacteria, leads to diarrhoea, fever, and stomach cramps. The disease spreads through contaminated food or water and is highly contagious. Health authorities have urged vigilance in hygiene and sanitation to prevent further spread.
Other infectious diseases are also on the rise in the state. Dengue fever continues to surge, with 98 new cases reported across districts on Friday. Ernakulam accounted for 45 of these cases, highlighting a concentrated outbreak in the district. Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection spread through animal urine, spiked with 21 new cases on the same day.
After a brief lull, a case of Mpox (formerly monkeypox) was confirmed on Thursday in a 43-year-old man from Kilimanoor, Thiruvananthapuram. The patient had recently returned from Saudi Arabia and is currently isolated at the Government Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, where he is receiving treatment. Health officials are monitoring close contacts to contain any potential spread.
The concurrent rise in multiple infectious diseases has put pressure on the state's healthcare system. The health department has intensified surveillance and awareness campaigns, advising the public to adopt preventive measures such as using boiled water, maintaining hand hygiene, and seeking immediate medical attention for symptoms like fever or diarrhoea.
