Thiruvananthapuram, 19 June (H.S.): Kerala has intensified its efforts to prevent the spread of communicable diseases by launching a three-day statewide “Dry Day” campaign, beginning with awareness and cleaning activities in schools on Friday. Similar sanitation drives have been planned in government offices on Saturday and in households on Sunday as part of a coordinated effort to curb the spread of Shigella, dengue fever, leptospirosis and other monsoon-related diseases.

The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Health Minister K. Muraleedharan with District Collectors and District Medical Officers on Wednesday. The campaign focuses on eliminating mosquito-breeding sites, maintaining hygiene and strengthening preventive measures across the state.

The government moved ahead with the emergency initiative after identifying significant shortcomings in pre-monsoon sanitation activities. Health officials noted that cleaning campaigns had been affected by the recently concluded elections, leading to gaps in preventive measures. The Health Minister had earlier acknowledged that pre-monsoon cleaning efforts had failed to achieve the desired results, prompting the need for immediate intervention.

The disease-prevention drive comes at a time when Kerala is witnessing a rise in several infectious diseases. Amid the ongoing Shigella outbreak, the state has also reported a fresh case of Mpox. A 43-year-old man from Pulimath in Kilimanoor, Thiruvananthapuram district, tested positive for the viral infection on Thursday. Health authorities have not released further details about the patient. The latest case takes the total number of Mpox infections reported in Kerala this year to eight and is the first confirmed case this month.

Meanwhile, 19 new Shigella cases were reported across the state on Thursday. Kozhikode recorded the highest number of new infections with nine cases, followed by Thrissur with three, Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur with two each, and one case each in Kollam, Ernakulam and Malappuram.

According to Health Department data, Kerala has reported 186 Shigella cases so far this year, including 110 cases in June alone. Kozhikode and Wayanad continue to be the worst-affected districts. The state also recorded 68 fresh dengue cases on Thursday. A resident of Natika in Thrissur district died of dengue fever, while another case of amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare but serious brain infection, was also confirmed. Health authorities have urged the public to actively participate in the Dry Day campaign and maintain strict hygiene measures to prevent further spread of diseases.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman