5 killed, 133 cases so far in June: Shigella outbreak worsens in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram,UPDATED: Jun 20, 2026 22:57 IST

Shigella infections continued to rise in Kerala on Saturday, with 13 more cases reported even as health authorities stepped up surveillance and containment measures, officials said. The state has reported five deaths linked to the disease so far this month, while the total number of Shigella infections recorded in June has risen to 133.

In a separate health update, the Kerala Health Department said all 15 people who developed symptoms after being identified as contacts of a Nipah patient in Kozhikode have tested negative. The patient remains on ventilator support at the Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital, and 104 people are still under observation.

According to a statement from the Health Minister's Office, of the 13 new Shigella cases, four were reported in Kozhikode, three each in Malappuram and Kannur, two in Palakkad, and one in Kollam. Kozhikode and Wayanad continue to account for the highest number of cases reported in June. Shigella outbreaks have been declared in Kozhikode with 40 cases, Wayanad 18, Thiruvananthapuram 15, Malappuram 19, Thrissur 11, Kannur 10, Kollam 9, Alappuzha 3, Idukki 3, Palakkad 3 and Ernakulam 2. This year, the total number of Shigella cases reported in the state has reached 209 and the death toll stands at 6.

Shigella is a highly contagious bacterial infection that mainly affects the intestines and spreads through contaminated food, water or poor hygiene. The disease commonly causes diarrhoea, fever and stomach cramps, and can be particularly dangerous for children, elderly people and those with weakened immunity.

On the Nipah situation, the Health Department said the test result of a healthcare worker who developed symptoms after being included in the contact list of the Kozhikode patient had returned negative. No new people were added to the patient's contact list on Saturday. Of the 104 people under observation, four have been classified as very high-risk, 14 as high-risk and 86 as low-risk contacts. Health workers also visited 81 houses in Division 5 of Ramanattukara municipality, where the Nipah case was reported, as part of surveillance activities.

Nipah is a zoonotic viral disease caused by the Nipah virus and is known for its high fatality rate. The infection can spread from animals, particularly fruit bats, to humans, and can also be transmitted through close contact with infected people. Symptoms range from fever and respiratory illness to severe encephalitis. Overall, Kerala's latest health bulletin showed a continued rise in Shigella cases alongside close monitoring of the Nipah situation in Kozhikode.

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