Kerala records fourth shigellosis death as child dies

A seven-year-old boy from Malappuram district died on Monday, June 15, 2026, marking the fourth fatality from shigellosis in Kerala this year. The child, identified as Arjav, was a Class II student who had been undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College Hospital in Kozhikode after being admitted on June 12 with fever and severe diarrhoea.

Health officials confirmed the boy's death brings the statewide death toll to four, with three of those fatalities occurring in June alone. According to health department data, Kerala has recorded 135 confirmed cases of the bacterial intestinal infection since January, with Kozhikode district accounting for approximately half of those cases. In June alone, 62 confirmed cases and 17 suspected infections have been reported.

The latest death has prompted intensified surveillance and preventive measures across several districts. In Malappuram, District Collector Vinay Goyal announced a two-week campaign against communicable diseases, set to run from June 17 to 30. The coordinated effort will involve inspections of hotels, roadside eateries, and other food establishments, with repeat violations facing legal action. The campaign will also...