Fresh shigella case reported in Kerala

Another case of Shigella infection was reported in a 13-year-old boy in Kozhikode district. A six-year-old boy from Kannur was also reported with the infection on Thursday.

Kozhikode: Shigella bacterial infection has now been reported from a hilly region of Kozhikode district in Kerala on Friday. A thirteen-year-old boy from Koodaranji Panchayath has contracted the bacterial infection.

On detecting a fresh case, the Panchayath and the Health Department have issued an alert in the area and have asked the people to follow the necessary precautions.

A boy aged six from Kannur Chittaripparambu was reported as infected with Shigella on Thursday. The health condition of the child who is being treated at a private hospital in Kannur is satisfactory, the hospital authorities informed. The Health Department is probing the source of infection. Another case of Shigella infection was reported from the district in December.

Shigellosis, commonly called Shigella infection, is a contagious intestinal infection caused by a genus of bacteria called Shigella. Once the bacteria enter the body through food or water, symptoms would surface within one to two days.

Common symptoms of Shigella infection include diarrhoea, blood traced stools, stomach pain, vomiting and fever. As the transmission of Shigella is mostly through ingestion, washing hands well with soap and water and drinking only boiled water can prevent contracting the bacterial infection to a large extent.