Kerala reports sharp rise in viral fevers, dengue, waterborne diseases during monsoonThiruvananthapuram, July 19 (UNI) Kerala has witnessed a significant rise in viral fevers, mosquito-borne diseases and waterborne infections since the onset of the monsoon, with viral fever cases increasing by 19 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year, according to public health experts.
Dr. Purohit said waterborne and foodborne diseases also showed an upward trend.
Diarrhoea cases increased from 90,379 to 1,24,833, while influenza cases more than tripled from 1,059 to 3,310.
He said the sharpest increase was recorded in shigella infections, which jumped from 24 cases in 2025 to 285 cases this year.
At the same time, Kerala reported a decline in leptospirosis (rat fever) and hepatitis A cases.
Kerala reports sharp rise in viral fevers, dengue, waterborne diseases during monsoon
Thiruvananthapuram, July 19 (UNI) Kerala has witnessed a significant rise in viral fevers, mosquito-borne diseases and waterborne infections since the onset of the monsoon, with viral fever cases increasing by 19 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year, according to public health experts.
Official data from the State Health Department showed dengue cases had increased by nearly 20 per cent, while diarrhoea cases surged by 38 per cent,
Advisor to the National Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme and noted epidemiologist Dr. Naresh Purohit said.
Expressing concern over the sharp rise in dengue infections, Dr. Purohit, who is also Visiting Professor at the Kerala University of Health Sciences' School of Public Health, said dengue cases rose from 3,120 between June 1 and July 15, 2025, to 3,742 during the corresponding period in 2026, registering a 19 per cent increase. However, dengue-related deaths remained unchanged at nine in both years.
The number of people seeking treatment for viral fever also increased substantially, rising from 4,00,326 during June 1-July 15, 2025, to 4,78,988 in the same period this year.
Dr. Purohit said waterborne and foodborne diseases also showed an upward trend. Diarrhoea cases increased from 90,379 to 1,24,833, while influenza cases more than tripled from 1,059 to 3,310.
He said the sharpest increase was recorded in shigella infections, which jumped from 24 cases in 2025 to 285 cases this year.
At the same time, Kerala reported a decline in leptospirosis (rat fever) and hepatitis A cases. Leptospirosis cases fell from 589 to 509, while deaths declined from 41 to 27. Hepatitis A cases dropped from 1,834 to 1,140, with fatalities decreasing from 13 to eight, he added.
UNI DS
