Context: Recently, the health officials in Kozhikode district of Kerala convened emergency meetings after six cases of shigella infection were detected in the district. 

About

• Shigella Infection (shigellosis) is an intestinal infection caused by a family of bacteria known as shigella.
• Transmission: Contaminated food, water are the source of the infection. The bacteria spreads not only through surfaces — touching an infected surface and then touching the mouth — but also from eating food prepared by someone carrying the infection.
• Caused by Bacteria: Shigellosis or shigella infection is a contagious intestinal infection caused by a genus of bacteria known as shigella. 

About the bacteria

• The bacteria is one of the prime pathogens responsible for causing diarrhea, especially in children in African and South Asian regions. 
• The bacteria, after entering the body through ingestion, attacks the epithelial lining of the colon resulting in inflammation of the cells. 
• Spread person-to-person: When the bacteria is swallowed accidentally. 
• Spread through contaminated food and water: Is the most common form of transmission across the world. 

Common symptoms

• People with shigellosis may start experiencing symptoms within one or two days of the entry of germs in the body. 
• The common symptoms are diarrhea - often bloody and painful, stomach pain, fever, nausea and vomiting. 
• There have been cases too where people don’t experience any signs of the bacterial infection. 

Is shigella severe in most cases?: Complications don’t usually occur in most cases. In certain cases, if left undiagnosed even after a week of severe symptoms, shigella can cause complications like seizures, rectal prolapse and reactive arthritis, resulting in even death. 

• Prevention: According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 
• It’s important to wash hands especially after dealing with a child’s diaper and before preparing or eating food. 
• While swimming in pools and lakes, it’s advisable not to swallow water. 
• One can avoid eating contaminated food especially from the street in unhygienic conditions. 
• Drinking boiled water is advised.