Kerala Battles Multiple Disease Outbreaks as Monsoon Intensifies

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is facing a mounting public health crisis as multiple infectious diseases spread simultaneously across the state, with the onset of the southwest monsoon aggravating conditions on the ground.

A total of 10,853 people sought treatment for fever at various government hospitals across the state on Monday alone. Malappuram district recorded the highest single-day count with 2,117 cases, while Thrissur also crossed the 1,000-patient mark. Separately, 2,399 people were treated for diarrhoea statewide, raising serious concern given the simultaneous spread of Shigella.

Health Minister K Muraleedharan confirmed that 21 children in Wayanad district have tested positive for Shigella, with four more currently under observation. The minister said the situation is under control and announced he would visit Wayanad on Tuesday afternoon.

The outbreak was first reported among students of Mar Baselios School in Koliyadі, Sultan Bathery, where children began developing fever, vomiting, and diarrhoea last Thursday. Water and food samples from the school have been collected under the supervision of the District Medical Officer and sent for laboratory testing. A Shigella-linked death was earlier reported from Kozhikode.

Over 300 dengue cases were confirmed across Kerala in the past week, with more than 1,000 people under observation with symptoms. One death each has been reported from dengue and leptospirosis. On Saturday alone, 35 people tested positive for dengue across various districts. Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam are reporting the highest number of active dengue cases.

This month has also seen four deaths from other infections — West Nile fever, H1N1 influenza, seasonal influenza, and dengue — spread across different districts.

Health officials and observers have pointed to the intensifying monsoon coupled with the state government's failure to carry out adequate pre-monsoon sanitation drives as the primary factors behind the outbreak. Inadequate cleaning of drainage channels and poor stormwater management have led to widespread waterlogging in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi, creating ideal conditions for mosquito breeding. Accumulated solid waste has also contributed to a surge in the rat population, further elevating the risk of leptospirosis.