Malappuram issues Nipah, Shigella surveillance

Health authorities have intensified surveillance and precautionary measures in Malappuram after four residents were identified in the contact list of a man from Kozhikode who tested positive for the Nipah virus.

Officials said all four contacts were in the low-risk category and urged the public not to spread rumors through social media. A blood sample of one suspected case in the district has been sent for testing.

Surveillance has been stepped up in Vazhayur panchayat, which borders the area linked to the Nipah case. Fourteen teams conducted a fever survey in two departments on Saturday (June 13, 2026). Health officials said no Nipah-related symptoms were detected during the survey and that monitoring would be extended to other wards if necessary.

Authorities at the Government Medical College, Kozhikode, confirmed that samples collected from three high-risk contacts of the Nipah patient had tested negative. Health officials said the infection had not spread beyond the identified areas and that all those under observation remained stable.

Meanwhile, fears of Shigella infection have grown in the district. A woman from Keezhattur near Perinthalmann died of the disease on Sunday (June 14, 2026) while Shigella bacteria was detected in drinking water at a tender coconut parlor in Tirurangadi.

The Food Safety Department ordered the closure of a juice outlet in Tirurangadi after laboratory tests confirmed the presence of Shigella bacteria in drinking water samples taken during an inspection on May 30.

Officials said the facility has been suspended and inspections will continue throughout the district. The public was advised to ensure the safety of drinking water. Shigella cases have also been reported from Kollam, Thrissur and Malappuram districts in recent days.

Published – 14 Jun 2026 21:44 IST