Kerala has declared a health alert following a surge in Shigella infections, with 93 confirmed cases and two fatalities recorded statewide as of June 8, 2026. The outbreak, concentrated initially in Kozhikode and Wayanad districts, has since extended to Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Malappuram, and Kannur. At Mar Baselios AUP School in Wayanad’s Koliyadi, 25 students are hospitalised at Sultan Bathery Taluk Hospital, with 339 symptomatic children under observation and over 800 households placed under surveillance.
Health Minister K. Muraleedharan has deployed a specialised medical team from Kozhikode Medical College to Wayanad and directed the Food Safety Commissioner to conduct statewideinspections. Under ‘Operation Clean Kerala,’ Thrissur authorities fined four eateries for hygiene violations. The minister urged local bodies to enforce strict sanitation standards at roadside stalls and food establishments.
Shigellosis — caused by the Shigella bacterium and spreading via contaminated food, water, and poor hand hygiene — primarily threatens children under five. Residents are advised to consume boiled water, practise frequent handwashing, and seek prompt medical attention for symptoms including diarrhoea, fever, and vomiting.
Written By: Sayan Das
Graphics by: Pramit Hazra
