The Kerala government has intensified disease surveillance and preventive measures following the death of a four-year-old girl from a Shigella infection in Kozhikode, marking the state's first reported fatality linked to the bacterial disease. Health Minister K Muraleedharan announced the measures during a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram and urged the public to remain vigilant as health authorities monitor the situation closely.

According to the minister, three children were admitted to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital after contracting the infection. While two of the children recovered and were discharged, four-year-old Nila from Thalakkulathur died on Saturday despite medical treatment. Shigella is a bacterial infection that affects the intestines and commonly causes symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain. Health officials said the disease typically spreads through contaminated food and water, making hygiene and sanitation critical to prevention.

The Health Department has also been investigating reports of gastrointestinal illness among students in the Sulthan Bathery region of Wayanad district. Around 164 students reportedly developed symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhea, prompting the deployment of a medical team from Kozhikode Medical College. Samples have been collected for laboratory analysis, and preliminary findings indicate that the illnesses are not linked to Shigella, although further testing is underway to confirm the cause.

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Muraleedharan said approximately 123 cases of similar illnesses were reported in Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts during the previous week. As part of statewide preventive efforts, the government has instructed the Food Safety Department to intensify inspections of hotels, restaurants, and eateries. Authorities have also directed establishments to maintain strict hygiene standards and ensure the availability of safe drinking water for customers.

The minister stressed the importance of chlorination of water sources and warned that lapses in sanitation and water quality management could contribute to wider disease transmission. He also expressed concern over reports that ice used for preserving fish was being reused for drinking water and food-related purposes in some establishments. Such practices, he said, would attract strict action from authorities. Local self-government institutions have also been asked to monitor hygiene standards more closely.

In addition to the Shigella-related precautions, the Health Department has issued alerts to airports and medical colleges across Kerala following reports of Ebola cases abroad. Muraleedharan also dismissed reports suggesting plans to privatize government healthcare services, stating that the government's focus remains on strengthening public hospitals and improving healthcare standards. He reiterated that government medical institutions should be capable of competing with private healthcare facilities in terms of quality, infrastructure, and patient care.

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