Wayanad, Kerala: As monsoon arrived, several communicable diseases and viruses are spreading across Kerala. The state is on high alert after the recent outbreak of Shigellosis (a highly contagious bacterial infection). The virus is affecting schoolchildren across multiple districts, prompting intensified surveillance by health authorities.

Following the report of the virus infection in Wayanad, at least 13 educational institutions in the district have been closed. The situation escalated after a four-year-old girl from Kozhikode died due to the infection, marking state’s first reported fatality linked to shigella. Outbreaks and cases are primarily reported in Wayanad, Kozhikode, Alappuzha, and Pathanamthitta districts.

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Authorities have increased monitoring in schools, testing several samples and expanding  surveillance to new clusters as cases continue to raise. Over 800 households and 13 institutions in Wayanad are under monitoring after a Shigella outbreak.

One more student sample from Koliyadi tested positive, with several results awaited. Students with symptoms are being treated under protocol, while linked schools and workplaces are also under surveillance.

On Wednesday, Kozhikode district also reported a suspected case of the deadly Nipah virus, with the person showing symptoms being admitted to a private hospital in the city. The suspected person’s sample has been sent for testing.