Health authorities have issued an alert for shigellosis, typhoid and rat fever being reported from various parts of the state
Another year, another monsoon and Kerala risks falling into the grip of waterborne diseases and bacterial infections. Health authorities have issued an alert for shigellosis, an intestinal bacterial infection; typhoid and rat fever being reported from various parts of the state. A four-year-old girl in Kozhikode died from shigellosis while hundreds are undergoing treatment in Kozhikode and Wayanad districts.
“Shigellosis was first reported in Pathanamthitta and then Alappuzha. A child died in Kozhikode. In Wayanad, 25 students have been admitted to the hospital at the Sultan Bathery taluk headquarters. They are stable,” health minister K. Muraleedharan told INDIA TODAY.
“A medical team has been sent from Calicut Medical College to Wayanad. Things are under control,” said the minister.
According to Muraleedharan, high-level surveillance has been ordered in the affected areas, and local self-government bodies and the district administration directed to ensure hygienic water supply and clean school premises.
Kerala has a robust public healthcare system with deep penetration till the grassroots, but the disease load from monsoon downpours takes a toll every year. According to Directorate of Health Services data, leptospirosis infected 22,674 people and killed 1,266 between 2016 and 2025. Hepatitis B caused 59 deaths, dengue 219 deaths, West Nile fever 10 deaths and shigellosis 9 deaths during the period.
Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan urged the V.D. Satheesan government to quicken relief. “Mostly the poor and marginalised are infected with diseases during the monsoon season. They should be given prompt relief,” Vijayan said in a conversation with INDIA TODAY.
Public health expert Dr B. Ikbal said more efforts were needed to safeguard people from waterborne diseases during monsoon. “Every year, hundreds of individuals—and mostly the young—die during monsoon due to bacterial infections and waterborne diseases. We need to design a health charter and make proactive preparations before monsoon. Social hygiene coupled with personal hygiene can avoid casualties,” Ikbal noted.
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Published By:
Mansi
Published On:
Jun 10, 2026 18:41 IST
Read the full article at India Today →📄Source document: Directorate of Health Services data
3 reports
India TodayIndependentCenter11 days agoHealth authorities in Kerala have issued alerts regarding rising cases of waterborne diseases such as shigellosis, typhoid, and rat fever during the monsoon season. A four-year-old girl in Kozhikode died from shigellosis, and several hundred people are receiving treatment in Kozhikode and Wayanad districts. The health minister stated that a medical team has been dispatched to Wayanad and emphasized efforts to maintain hygiene and prevent further spread.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a public health issue without taking a stance or showing clear bias toward any political perspective. It provides factual information about the situation, including quotes from officials and details about the measures being taken. There is no evident framing that favors one政治派
Official sources cited
- government Directorate of Health Services data
The HinduIndependentCenter12 days agoHeavy rains and strong winds affected several parts of Kerala on Tuesday, causing waterlogging, disrupted daily life, and led to evacuations in some areas. The southwest monsoon was active, with intense rainfall reported in Kozhikode and Ernakulam districts. In Thrissur, authorities evacuated five families due to potential landslides, while sudden winds damaged property and uprooted trees.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on natural disaster events without taking a stance or showing bias toward any political group. It provides factual descriptions of the weather conditions and their effects, along with details about evacuations and damages, without using loaded language or emphasizing particular政治
Official sources cited
- organisation Photo Credit: S.K. Mohan
- organisation Photo Credit: H. Vibhu
The WireIndependentCenter17 days agoThe article reports that the monsoon has finally arrived in Kerala.
Bias read (Center): The subject is apolitical and focuses on natural phenomena. There is no evident framing or slant in the brief text provided.
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