KOZHIKODE: A seven-year-old boy from Malappuram district died on Monday while receiving treatment at Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital for Shigella infection. The latest fatality has pushed the state’s Shigella death toll to four this year, intensifying concerns among health authorities over the continued spread of the bacterial disease.
The deceased child, Arjav, a native of Kodur near Pookkottur in Malappuram, had been undergoing treatment at the Mother and Child Care Centre at the medical college. He was admitted on June 12 after developing high fever and acute diarrhoea. Despite receiving intensive care, his health deteriorated and died of the infection.
Meanwhile, the postmortem examination report of a 43-year-old man from Mapranam in Irinjalakkuda has revealed that Shigella infection was the cause of his death. He was admitted to a private hospital in Kodakara with severe stomach pain and died on June 13, 2026. Though symptoms showed signs of bacterial infection, the autopsy report confirmed Shegellosis. The source of the infection remains unknown.
Statewide cases climb to 138
The latest fatality comes at a time when Kerala is witnessing a steady increase in shigellosis cases. Three fresh cases were reported in Kozhikode on Monday, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the state this year to 138.
The newly reported cases involve a five-year-old child from Puthiyangadi, a six-year-old girl from Changaroth Panchayat, and a resident of Feroke. Health authorities said the two children have recovered and were discharged from hospital, offering a measure of relief amid the growing public health concern. Meanwhile, Kozhikode remains the worst-affected district, accounting for 71 of the state’s 138 cases.
Those who lost their lives include a 59-year-old woman from Keezhattur in Perinthalmanna, a four-year-old girl from Kozhikode’s Vallilkadavu area, and a three-year-old child from Anakuzhikkara in Kozhikode.
Following the latest death, officials have also increased surveillance in Malappuram district. Medical teams are carrying out field-level assessments, monitoring water sources, and educating residents about hygiene practices and disease prevention.
Authorities also informed that a one-year-old child undergoing treatment for shigellosis at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital continues to remain in critical condition.
In response to the rising infections, health authorities have intensified preventive measures across affected regions. Local self-government bodies have been instructed to strengthen chlorination of drinking water sources, improve sanitation monitoring, and conduct awareness campaigns to prevent further transmission.
