The health department has issued a water-borne disease alert following the recent death of a three-and-a-half-year-old girl from Kuttikkattoor due to shigella infection.
A statement quoting district medical officer KK Rajaram said on Thursday (March 19) that diarrhoea, fever, stomach pain, vomiting, fatigue and presence of blood in the stool are the main symptoms of shigellosis, an intestinal infection caused by the shigella bacteria. In hepatitis ‘A’ symptoms are fever with body aches, headache, fatigue and nausea. Mr Rajaram said only boiled water should be used for cooking and hand hygiene is a must.
Meanwhile, the department has initiated preventive steps in the Anakkuzhikkara area of Kuttikkattoor. At least three other children are under observation at various hospitals. Some adults have also developed symptoms of shigella infection.
Published – 19 March 2026 20:46 IST
