India, June 17 -- Kerala is seeing a rise in Shigella infections, a bacterial disease that spreads through contaminated food and water. Health officials have stepped up monitoring and launched preventive measures in several districts as cases continue to increase during the monsoon season. Kerala has reported 146 Shigella cases and five deaths so far this year. Health officials became concerned after a sharp rise in June, when 70 cases were recorded in a single month. Kozhikode has reported the highest number of cases with 74 infections, followed by Malappuram and Thiruvananthapuram with 25 cases each. Malappuram has also recorded two deaths linked to the infection. Here's what Shigella is, how it spreads, the symptoms to watch out for an...