Another eight cases of shigellosis were reported in Kerala

Kerala on Friday reported eight more cases of shigellosis, taking the total number of cases reported in the state this month to 180, officials said. A statement issued by the office of Health Minister K. Muraleedharan said that of the eight new cases, three were reported from Kozhikode, two from Wayanad and one each from Ernakulam, Thrissur and Malappuram.

Shigellosis is a highly contagious bacterial infection that is primarily spread through contaminated food, water, or poor hygiene and causes diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps.

According to the health department, six shigellosis-related deaths were reported in the state in June, while the total number of confirmed cases this year has risen to 256. Outbreaks have been declared in four districts – Kozhikode, which reported 61 cases in June, Wayanad (25), Thrissur (13) and Alappuzha (5).

Apart from the latest cases, Malappuram reported 25 infections in June, followed by Thiruvananthapuram (18), Kollam (12), Kannur (11), Ernakulam (4), Idukki (3) and Palakkad (3), the statement said.

Nipah Update

Meanwhile, the health department said one more person in the high-risk category of contacts of a Nipah patient has been released from quarantine after completing the mandatory 21-day observation period without showing any symptoms. Nipah is a zoonotic viral disease that spreads from animals to humans and can also be transmitted through close human-to-human contact. The infection can cause severe respiratory disease and encephalitis and has a high mortality rate.

The person, a co-worker of the Nipah patient, is the first high-risk contact associated with the current case to successfully complete quarantine. No new contacts of the Nipah patient have been admitted to the hospital, officials said.

Currently, 4 people in the very risk category and 13 people in the high risk category are in quarantine, while 75 low-risk contacts are being monitored. The Nipah patient remains on ventilator support at Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital. Health officials on Friday visited 69 houses in Ramanattukara village where the patient was reported, while the district dispatch center has received 92 calls from the public so far.

Published – 26 Jun 2026 20:36 IST