KOZHIKODE: Kerala Health Minister K Muraleedharan has stated that comprehensive measures have been taken for Shigella prevention in the Kozhikode district. He noted that symptoms of the disease are being observed in various parts of the district and warned that if extreme caution is not maintained, there is a serious risk of it spreading rapidly like the Nipah virus.
As part of the containment strategy, strict instructions have been given to intensify inspections at restaurants and food outlets. Hotels and wayside eateries operating in unhygienic conditions will be forced to shut down immediately. Addressing another incident, the Minister stated that based on preliminary findings, there is no reason to panic over a Shigella outbreak in Wayanad, where a group of students had recently sought medical treatment. Tragically, a four-year-old child recently died at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital due to the infection, and three others are currently admitted for treatment.
Shigella is a bacterial infection that primarily targets the human intestinal tract. The key symptoms of the illness include severe diarrhea and intense abdominal pain. Maintaining a clean and hygienic environment is highly crucial to prevent the spread of this disease. If an individual infected with Shigella prepares food, it can easily lead to transmission. Consequently, authorities have issued strict directives advising the public not to drink water or bathe using water from contaminated sources.
Meanwhile, Minister K Muraleedharan flatly denied the ongoing rumors suggesting that the state’s public healthcare sector is being privatized. He clarified that the government will gladly accept Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds as well as financial assistance from institutions that step forward to support public healthcare infrastructure. However, he asserted that he did not assume office as a minister to privatize the public health system. He added that regardless of which party is in power, a specific lobby always works actively to tarnish the reputation of the government sector, and urged the public not to encourage such malicious campaigns.
ലഘു വിവരണം
കോഴിക്കോട്ട് ഷിഗല്ല ബാക്ടീരിയ ബാധയെ തുടർന്ന് നാല് വയസ്സുള്ള കുട്ടി മരണപ്പെടുകയും മൂന്ന് പേർ ചികിത്സയിലാവുകയും ചെയ്ത പശ്ചാത്തലത്തിൽ കടുത്ത പ്രതിരോധ നടപടികൾ സ്വീകരിച്ചതായി ആരോഗ്യ മന്ത്രി കെ മുരളീധരൻ അറിയിച്ചു. ജാഗ്രത പാലിച്ചില്ലെങ്കിൽ രോഗം നിപ പോലെ പടരുമെന്നും വൃത്തിഹീനമായ ഹോട്ടലുകൾ പൂട്ടിക്കുമെന്നും അദ്ദേഹം മുന്നറിയിപ്പ് നൽകി. ആരോഗ്യമേഖല സ്വകാര്യവൽക്കരിക്കാൻ പോകുന്നുവെന്ന പ്രചാരണം തള്ളിയ മന്ത്രി, വികസനത്തിനായി സിഎസ്ആർ ഫണ്ടുകൾ സ്വീകരിക്കുമെങ്കിലും പൊതുജനാരോഗ്യ സംവിധാനത്തെ സ്വകാര്യവൽക്കരിക്കില്ലെന്ന് വ്യക്തമാക്കി.
(With inputs from MN)
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