Stress laid on proper hygiene to prevent shigella spread in Kerala

Even as the district is free of shigella infection for now, health professionals have sounded caution and urged the public to maintain proper hygiene to prevent the occurrence of the disease or potential outbreaks.

A total of 15 cases, including one death, have been reported across the State this month due to shigellosis, a disease caused by Shigella bacteria. As many as 29 confirmed cases have been reported across the State so far this year.

The death of a child due to shigella in Kozhikode recently had triggered much concern. While there is no immediate cause for concern in the district, health professionals have stressed the importance of maintaining personal hygiene.

District Medical Officer R. Shahirsha said that water-borne communicable diseases tend to spread more during the summer season. “This is mainly due to the scarcity of fresh water. People should drink only boiled water and opt for homemade fluids such as rice soup. Maintaining good hygiene is non-negotiable, and only fresh and hot food should be consumed,” he said.

Shigellosis is a bacterial disease that spreads through the faecal-oral route by way of contaminated water or food, said Dr. Minu Mohan, Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Kalamassery. “While no cases have been reported here, following good hygienic practices is non-negotiable to prevent the spread of the disease. Regular handwashing and avoiding consumption of untreated or unboiled water is important,” he said.

Dr. G. Sathyajith Nair, secretary, Indian Academy of Paediatrics (Kochi branch), noted that a few cases were reported last year. “With the vacation season approaching, people should be cautious about the food and water that they consume from outside, especially non-packaged items. It is a contagious disease that can spread rapidly through contact,” he said.

According to Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, convenor, Indian Medical Association’s research cell, shigella is a serious intestinal infection. “It can lead to complications in children, especially those below the age of five. Children have relatively less developed immune systems and, therefore, are at higher risk. The infection may lead to complications such as kidney failure, seizures, or anaemia in them,” he said.

Dr. Jayadevan added that when an outbreak occurs, it must be promptly investigated, and scientific measures must be taken to prevent further spread.