Two more children of a school test positive for shigellosis in Keralam’s Kozhikode

Two additional children from Meppayil Senior Basic School in Kozhikode, Kerala, have been diagnosed with shigellosis, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to three. All three children, aged 7, 8, and 10, were admitted to the Government District Hospital with symptoms of vomiting, fever, and diarrhoea. Initial blood tests had initially returned negative results before turning positive upon further examination.

The school noticed an increase in students displaying similar symptoms since last Friday, leading to a total of 104 individuals seeking medical attention over the weekend and into Monday. The affected individuals had consumed egg curry and curd as part of their school lunch. Health and education department teams, guided by the District Medical Officer, conducted an inspection of the school.

As a precautionary measure, health workers visited 950 homes to distribute oral rehydration salts (ORS) and chlorinated wells at 290 properties.