Two schoolstudents in Wayanad district of Kerala have tested positive for shigella infection, the authorities said on Tuesday.The students of Koliadi Mar Baselios AUP School in Wayanad were admitted to Sultan Bathery Taluk Hospital following a suspected food poisoning incident.The infected children – a four-and-a-half-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl – are among 339 people who have reported symptoms of the infection.Of them, 21 are undergoing treatment at Sultan Bathery Taluk Headquarters Hospital, while 38 others are being treated at private hospitals, state health officials said.Health authorities said none of the patients are in critical condition.Shigella is a bacterial intestinal infection caused by the shigella bacterium. Common symptoms include diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal discomfort. The bacteria attacks the intestinal lining, causing inflammation and damage.Health officials cautioned that the infection can spread more rapidly than many other diarrhoeal diseases, making strict hygiene and early treatment essential.The district medical officer (DMO) has urged the public not to panic, stating that disease surveillance and epidemic prevention measures have been strengthened across the district. People experiencing symptoms have been advised to seek treatment at the nearest health facility without delay.The DMO also warned that children and elderly people are more vulnerable to severe illness.Addressing the media, Muraleedharan said a special medical team from Kozhikode Medical College has been deployed to Wayanad.He said a high-level review meeting will also be held in Sultan Bathery. He has directed district health authorities to intensify precautionary measures.The minister said unsanitary roadside thatched eateries found violating hygiene standards would be shut down.