Health Department on alert as 9 cases of Shigella reported in Malappuram

With the confirmation of 9 cases of Shigella in Kerala's Malappuram district, the Health Department has intensified measures to control the outbreak with immediate effect. According to a report by 'The Hindu', the outbreak originated from a wedding ceremony held at Elamkulam on 31 October, which came to light after more than 100 attendees exhibited symptoms of illness. Following this incident, widespread testing was conducted and several people have been kept under observation.

A special team has been formed by the Family Health Centre located near Perinthalmanna in Elamkulam, which is conducting door-to-door surveillance and sensitising people about this infectious disease. Cleaning activities, such as super-chlorination of wells and houses, are also being carried out on a war footing in the affected areas. Additionally, the administration has been set in motion after a 4-year-old girl's report came back positive in the Fifth Mile area of Amrambalam Panchayat in Nilambur. It has emerged that the girl contracted the infection after consuming snacks from a shop in Amrambalam. Following this incident, restrictions have been imposed on evening tea shops and street food stalls in the local panchayat, and inspections will be conducted in all food establishments.

The 9 cases recorded so far include people who attended the wedding, the child who consumed snacks in Amrambalam, and two individuals who ate 'Mandi' from a restaurant in Palunda, Nilambur. Food establishments suspected of being linked to this outbreak have been temporarily closed by the authorities. Currently, two infected patients are undergoing treatment at the Perinthalmanna and Nilambur Taluk hospitals.

The Health Department has instructed citizens to seek immediate medical advice if diarrhea or any other symptoms appear and to avoid self-medication. To prevent dehydration, advice has been given to consume plenty of ORS solution and boiled and cooled rice water (kanji). Furthermore, special emphasis has been placed on drinking only boiled and cooled water and consuming hot and clean food.