Sultan Bathery (Kerala): A severe outbreak of Shigella bacterial infection in Wayanad has prompted authorities to shut down 12 educational institutions for three days and enforce stringent restrictions on public gatherings. The alert intensified after five more girls, aged between 5 and 11, tested positive for the food and water-borne pathogen, taking the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases in the district to eight.

Rising case numbers and hospitalisations

Health officials confirmed that 502 individuals have presented symptoms of the infection so far. Four more patients were hospitalised, raising the total number of admissions since the outbreak began to 164, with 44 currently undergoing treatment. State Health Minister K Muraleedharan, speaking to reporters in Kozhikode, assured that the situation remains under control. However, he raised concerns over potential secondary transmissions, stating that a water analysis report from a local school's tube well is awaited to definitively track the source.

Public restrictions in Nenmeni Panchayat

To curb further contagion, Wayanad District Collector D R Meghasree issued an emergency order imposing restrictions on gatherings for one week across the Nenmeni Panchayat, which includes the heavily impacted Koliyadi area. Public rallies, temporary markets and social assemblies have been suspended.

Strict limits have been placed on attendance at weddings and funerals, where the use of masks and hand sanitisers is mandatory. Food safety inspectors and Health officers have launched a massive crackdown on unhygienic eateries and street vendors, alongside rigorous chlorination of water sources. Violators will face prosecution under the Kerala Public Health Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Intensive on-field containment efforts

Concurrently, defensive field operations have been ramped up under the supervision of Dr K P Reetha, Additional Director of the Public Health Division. Health workers visited 1,719 households, chlorinated 969 wells and distributed 727 Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) packets. District Medical Officer (DMO) Dr K T Rekha strongly advised the public against self-medication and urged residents to consume only chlorinated, boiled water.

12 high-risk educational institutions closed

Among the 12 high-risk institutions closed by the District Educational Officer (DEO) are St Mary's College Higher Secondary School (Bathery), Government Higher Secondary School (Moolankave), St Joseph's School (Bathery), Government High School (Beenachi), Government LP School (Kunthani), Ideal School (Bathery), Technical School (Bathery), GLPS Malika, Little Kingdom (Malankara) and Ananthane Engineering College (Vadakara).