Thiruvananthapuram, June 7 -- Keralam Health Minister K Muraleedharan on Sunday said that the state government has taken cognisance of the Shigella and Ebola outbreaks while noting the measures put in place to prevent the spread of the diseases.

Shigella bacteria cause shigellosis, an intestinal infection that typically leads to diarrhoea and fever. While the infection is usually mild and subsides on its own, it can cause severe complications in patients with co-morbid conditions. The bacteria enter the body through contaminated water or stale food and affect the epithelial lining of the colon, leading to inflammation of the cells.

Speaking about the outbreak, the minister said the infection has so far been reported in three districts. ...