Shigellosis resurfaces in Keralam; 3-year-old from capital hospitalised
Health officials renew public health warnings, urging people to be cautious about the food and beverages they consume outside their homes, especially during the festival season
Keralam is experiencing a resurgence of the intestinal illness shigellosis, with a three-year-old girl from Kottukal in Thiruvananthapuram district currently hospitalized at SAT Hospital. Following the child's admission, health officials have issued renewed public advisories, cautioning against consuming food and beverages outside of one's home, particularly during the festival season.
The infant's family had traveled to Nagercoil on August 12, and the child fell ill after consuming cold drinks from a roadside vendor. Diarrhea and vomiting followed the next day, leading to the child's admission to SAT hospital's pediatric ward. The case was confirmed on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
Additional cases of shigellosis have been reported from Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram, as well as scattered instances from Pazhayannur in Thrissur, Kattipara in Kozhikode, and Noolpuzha in Wayanad. Shigellosis, also known as bacillary dysentery, is a highly contagious bacterial gastrointestinal infection caused by the shigella bacterium, typically transmitted through contaminated food or water.
Symptoms can range from mild diarrhea to severe cases, with the infection posing a higher risk of fatality in young children under five years old, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. Initial symptoms typically surface within one to two days of infection and include fever, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, blood in stools, and frequent urges to use the restroom.
The Health department has advised affected individuals to consume oral rehydration solution to prevent dehydration and seek medical attention if diarrhea persists.
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