Tunisia recorded this week the death of a child affected by the “Shigella” bacterium and the placement of six other children in the intensive care unit following complications from infection with the germ, which left a state of panic in families and fear of send their children to schools and incubators, according to Sky News.
The Ministry of Health has revealed that 96 germ infections, the most serious of which among children, have identified signs of “Shigella” infection, which affects the digestive system, leaving abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea and increased temperature, causing dehydration of the body and a drop in blood circulation, asking for prevention by avoiding contaminated water and washing hands continuously.
The ministry also announced that it has begun field research to collect food and water samples in order to verify the sources of the germ in various regions of the country.
The regional director of health in Tunisia, Tarek Belnaser, told Sky News Arabia that the “Shigella” bacterium began to spread in Tunisia since last July, registering infections among children who required hospitalization to receive treatment through antibiotics and replacement of liquids and salts.
Belnaser explained that the eight-year-old girl, who died of the germ infection, arrived late at the hospital after her health deteriorated, stressing that they had launched awareness campaigns with families to urge them to transfer their children for treatment as soon as possible. as signs appeared on them, and for children in schools to make them aware of the importance of adhering to hygiene and washing hands.
Mahgoub Al-Awni, virologist, explained the danger of “Shigella” as a bacterium that multiplies in the intestine and rots its surface, causing vomiting and diarrhea, sometimes accompanied by bleeding and secretions from the intestine, especially in children and people with immunodeficiency, explaining that “Shigella” is an old germ that disappeared from Tunisia and remained registered with few cases, before reappearing in recent months and spreading epidemiologically due to poor cleaning of the places and water in which the infection has occurred, as well as the speed of its transmission through food, water and hands, and its dangerousness is related to the carriers of infection who do not show symptoms and contribute to the spread The infection is very rapid and cases require intensive care care and hospitalization.
