Shigella concerns mount in Kerala with fresh cases and casualty; Nipah fears recede

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Seven new cases of Shigella and one fatality were reported in Kerala, keeping state health authorities on high alert even as anxieties surrounding a potential Nipah outbreak begin to ease.

The fresh infections include two cases each from Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram, and one each from Thrissur, Malappuram, and Wayanad. The latest casualty was a middle-aged woman hailing from Kozhikode. With these developments, the total number of Shigella infections in the state this year has climbed to 216. The month of June alone has witnessed a sharp spike, accounting for 140 cases and six deaths.

Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Wayanad districts have emerged as the hardest-hit regions this month. Official outbreaks have already been declared in four districts, with Kozhikode leading the tally at 42 cases, followed by Wayanad with 19, Thrissur with 12, and Alappuzha with 3. Other districts reporting infections in June include Malappuram (20), Thiruvananthapuram (17), Kannur (10), Kollam (9), Palakkad (3), Idukki (3), and Ernakulam (2).

Meanwhile, there is visible relief on the Nipah front, with officials indicating that the situation is currently under control. No new hospital admissions for isolation or observation were recorded today from the primary patient’s contact list. Furthermore, health department sources confirmed that all symptomatic individuals on the contact list who underwent diagnostic testing have returned negative results.
No new names were added to the tracking list today, which currently stands at 104 individuals. Among those being monitored, four are categorised under very high risk, 14 under high risk, and 86 are classified as low risk. The isolated Nipah patient continues to undergo treatment on ventilator support at the Kozhikode Medical College.
Field operations and community surveillance remain intensive. Health workers today visited 49 more households within Division 5 of the Ramanattukara Municipality, the localised zone where the infection was first detected.
Public outreach systems also remain active, with the district control room answering 91 calls from citizens seeking clarification. Health officials maintained direct contact with everyone on the observation list today to monitor their health status. Concurrently, the District Mental Health Programme has stepped in to provide psychological support, reaching out to 125 individuals currently experiencing the stress of isolation.