Kerala health sector is facing an issue with the Bacteria Shigella..it is a rod shaped bacteria causing shigellosis which mainly causes diarrhea,fever and stomach cramps
Now this bacterial disease is spreading fastly in certain areas of Kerala.
What makes this bacterial disease to be spread?
It’s mainly because of contaminated water and food.Personal hygiene is also an important part of it .Most of us think that outside food be the villain.but in certain cases..our kitchen are also the areas of bacterial growth.
So make sure that water we use for cooking must be free from contaminants.
Is it the water be the sole reason or climate change is there for creating new threats in
Kerala ?
Climate change definitely plays a major role here, but I think public awareness is the biggest missing link here. Since Shigella has a very low infectious dose as per the research, means it takes only a tiny amount of bacteria to make someone sick- it spreads fast within households. So, we need to make sure that not just boiling drinking water, we need to emphasize strict handwashing after using restrooms or before having a meal, especially in public restaurants or school kitchens.
While contaminated food and water remain the direct causes of Shigella infection, factors such as poor sanitation, inadequate hygiene, population density, flooding, and climate-related changes can increase the likelihood of outbreaks. Therefore, preventing shigellosis requires not only safe drinking water but also strong sanitation systems, proper food hygiene, and public health surveillance.
Climate change may create conditions that facilitate outbreaks. Contaminated water, poor hygiene, and poor sanitation may also cause Shigella transmission.
Well water isn’t the sole reason, but it is the primary transmission vehicle. Climate change is also the reason. In intense monsoon rains and flooding acts as an accelerator. It dramatically increases the risk by overflowing sanitation systems and contaminating drinking water sources.