Wayanad

Seven additional cases of Shigella infection have been confirmed among students of a school in Kerala's Wayanad district, taking the total number of infected children to 16, health officials said on Friday.

District Medical Officer (DMO) Dr K T Rekha said surveillance activities related to infectious diseases, along with awareness campaigns on prevention and control measures, have been intensified across the district.

In a statement, the DMO said the health condition of all 16 children who tested positive for the bacterial infection was currently stable and satisfactory.

She advised that children exhibiting symptoms should minimise contact with others to prevent the disease from spreading to fellow students, family members and adults.

"If any new symptoms appear, health workers should be informed immediately and treatment should be sought at the nearest health centres," Rekha said, urging people to avoid self-medication.

The DMO also appealed to the public to strictly adhere to the precautionary guidelines issued by the Health Department.

She stressed the importance of maintaining personal hygiene and ensuring cleanliness in surroundings, drinking water sources and food preparation practices.

On Thursday, Kerala Health Minister K Muraleedharan had said that fresh Shigella cases had also been reported from Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Kozhikode districts, while assuring that there was no immediate cause for panic.

According to the minister, as of June 11, a total of 578 people in the state had shown symptoms associated with the infection, while 55 individuals had been admitted to government and private hospitals for treatment.

Referring to the Wayanad outbreak, where most of those affected are students of an aided school, Muraleedharan said tests had revealed a significant bacterial presence in the school's well water, indicating contamination.

In response to the outbreak, the district administration had declared a holiday for all schools and educational institutions in the affected area and neighbouring regions until June 14.

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Shigella is a bacterial infection that causes diarrhoea, fever and stomach cramps. The disease spreads primarily through contaminated food and water, as well as through direct contact with infected individuals. Prompt treatment, proper hygiene and safe food and water practices are considered essential to prevent its transmission.