Fresh Shigella Death in Kerala Takes June Toll to Six, Cases Rise to 140

Kerala reported another Shigella-related death on Sunday, taking the number of fatalities linked to the bacterial infection in the state this month to six , as health authorities continued monitoring a rise in cases across several districts.

According to the Health Department, a 54-year-old woman from Mavoor in Kozhikode district , who died on June 20, was confirmed to have been infected with Shigella. Officials also reported seven fresh cases , including two each from Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram and one each from Thrissur, Malappuram and Wayanad. While experts do not currently see a risk of a major interstate outbreak, they warn that the infection can spread through contaminated food, water and human movement if hygiene and sanitation standards are not maintained.

With the latest additions, Kerala has recorded 140 Shigella cases and six deaths in June , while the total number of confirmed cases this year has risen to 216 . Kozhikode, Malappuram and Wayanad remain the worst-affected districts, reporting 42, 20 and 19 cases respectively during the month.

Health authorities have intensified surveillance, testing and awareness campaigns, urging people to follow proper hygiene, consume safe drinking water and ensure careful food handling to reduce the risk of infection.

Shigella , or shigellosis, is a highly contagious bacterial disease that affects the intestines and spreads through contaminated food, water and poor sanitation. It typically causes diarrhoea, fever and stomach cramps, and can be particularly dangerous for children, the elderly and people with weakened immunity.

Meanwhile, Kerala's Nipah virus situation remains under control . No new contacts were added to the monitoring list on Sunday, and all samples from symptomatic contacts have tested negative. A total of 104 people remain under observation , while the infected patient continues treatment on ventilator support at the Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode.