Shigellosis resurfaces in Keralam; 3-year-old from capital hospitalised

Shigellosis resurfaces in Keralam; 3-year-old from capital hospitalised Health authorities renew public health warnings, urging residents to be cautious regarding the food and beverages they consume outside their homes, especially during the festival season.

Key points

• It was in June this year (2026) that Keralam documented major Shigellosis outbreaks, with over 225 cases and six deaths noted from Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Wayanad districts.
• As plenty of as 441 confirmed cases, 106 probable cases and eight deaths due to Shigellosis have been noted in the State, as of August 18 this year.
• Shigellosis has surfaced again in Keralam, with a three-year-old child from Kottukal in Thiruvananthapuram district admitted to SAT Hospital with the infection.
• As reports indicate, the child had travelled with her family to Nagercoil on August 12.
• Health authorities point out that cases of shigellosis are noted sporadically throughout the year from all districts in Keralam, with some cases triggering small local outbreaks.

Shigellosis (bacillary dysentery) is a highly contagious bacterial diarrhoeal infection caused by shigella. It is contracted through contaminated food or water. The disease can present with mild symptoms or as severe cases of diarrhoea.

After this, health office-holders have renewed public health warnings, urging individuals to be cautious concerning the food and beverages they consume outside their homes, especially during the festival season.

As reports indicate, the child had travelled with her family to Nagercoil on August 12. On the way, they reportedly consumed cold drinks from a wayside vendor. The child developed diarrhoea and vomiting the after day and was afterwards admitted to SAT hospital, where she is now recuperating in one of the paediatric wards. The case was confirmed on Tuesday (August 18, 2026).

One more case of shigellosis was additionally noted from Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday; and three scattered cases from Pazhayannur in Thrissur; Kattipara in Kozhikode and Noolpuzha in Wayanad.

For context, the infection spreads through contaminated water, food and contact from infected surfaces.

While shigellosis is self-limiting in healthy adults, it can be fatal for children under five years, in whom the highest mortality is documented. The elderly and immunocompromised individuals are additionally highly vulnerable.

Symptoms usually appear within one to two days of infection and include fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea, blood in stools, and painful, frequent urges to employ the washroom.

Meanwhile, the Health department has advised that affected persons employ solutions of oral rehydration salts so that dehydration is avoided and that they seek treatment if there is no respite in diarrhoea.

It was in June this year (2026) that Keralam documented major Shigellosis outbreaks, with over 225 cases and six deaths noted from Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Wayanad districts. Outbreaks were officially declared in Kozhikode (77 cases), Wayanad (27), Malappuram (37), Thrissur (15), and Alappuzha (5). Cases were additionally noted from Thiruvananthapuram (20), Kollam (15), Kannur (14), Palakkad (6), Ernakulam (4), Idukki (3), and Pathanamthitta (1) during June and July.

As plenty of as 441 confirmed cases, 106 probable cases and eight deaths due to Shigellosis have been noted in the State, as of August 18 this year. Last year, a total of 133 cases were documented, with zero deaths.

In short, shigellosis resurfaces in Keralam; 3-year is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.