More cases of shigellosis surfaced on Friday (June 12, 2026), with new cases being reported from various districts in Kerala.
The death of a 59-year-old woman from Keezhattoor in Malappuram district on June 9 has now been confirmed by the Health department as due to shigellosis. This takes the total number of deaths due to shigellosis this year to three, two of which were in children younger than five years in Kozhikode.
A total of 18 cases of shigellosis was confirmed by the Health department on Friday, taking the total number of cases reported this year in the State so far to 132. There are also 75 probable cases.
The Health department confirmed that seven more samples from children in Chulliyode in Wayanad have tested positive for shigella infection. Though more than 500 children and adults showed symptoms of the disease, 16 samples were sent for testing. Of them, nine samples were confirmed positive for shigella earlier. More people have been discharged from hospitals in Wayanad and, at present, only around 20 persons are remaining as hospital admissions.
Apart from the seven cases in Wayanad, one case each was reported from Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam; two cases from Wadakkanchery in Thrissur; three cases from Malappuram and four cases were reported from Kozhikode
In Thiruvananthapuram, the Food Safety wing reported that shigella bacteria was isolated from a sample of pineapple juice from a bakery at Kattakada.
Food Safety officials said that following the shigellosis reports from across districts, the department had intensified checks and the particular sample of juice had been collected from the bakery as part of a routine sample. Shigella was isolated in tests done at the Food Safety department’s lab . The juice had been locally made and kept for sale in the bakery. The bakery has since been asked to shut shop.
Health officials said that the rise in shigellosis cases was yet another indicator of the deterioration of water quality in the State in recent years and that there had been a general increase in water-borne diseases across districts.
Poor water quality
“Shigellosis can present with mild symptoms or as severe cases of diarrhoea. It is possible that a good number of cases of acute diarrhoeal diseases reported in the State might in fact be due to shigella,” a senior Health official said.
The poor quality of ground water in the State and the proximity of leach pits and unscientifically constructed septic tanks to household wells has been well-documented and contamination of well water due to faecal bacteria (E.coli) has been reported widely.
For a State which takes pride in its public health system, it is disappointing that sufficient efforts are not being made to ensure access to safe drinking water and adequate sewage and sanitation. Health officials point out that good hand washing practices and using boiled water for drinking purposes itself can bring down the load of water-borne diseases.
Patients with shigellosis and their household members should be educated about appropriate infection control practices to prevent transmission of shigellosis to others.
Published – June 12, 2026 08:33 pm IST