The outbreak of shigella and the spread of vector-borne diseases show that the Health department in the State has been a complete failure, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA B.B. Gopakumar has said. Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, he said that the department has still not taken any concrete action despite six deaths in the State due to shigella.

He attributed the spread of diseases to the lack of proper waste management and cleaning activities as well as disease prevention drives. The MLA blamed both the current United Democratic Front government and the previous Left Democratic Front government for the state of affairs.

"Kerala is now the State with the most number of cases of serious illnesses. Almost 13,000 people are getting admitted in government hospitals daily due to viral fever. The staff strength in government hospitals are also insufficient to handle these cases," he said.

The Chathannoor MLA also criticised the government for the transfer of Director of Health Services (DHS) K.J. Reena amid such a serious situation. He said that he will issue a notice for Adjournment Motion on the disease outbreaks when the Assembly convenes for the Budget session.