Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala reported 10 more cases of Shigella infection on Friday, taking the total number of cases recorded in June to 120, the Health Department said.According to a statement issued by Health Minister K Muraleedharan, three of the new Shigella cases were reported from Kozhikode, two each from Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur and Malappuram, and one from Palakkad.Shigella is a highly contagious bacterial infection that spreads through contaminated food, water or poor hygiene, and commonly causes diarrhoea, fever and stomach cramps.With the latest cases, the total number of Shigella infections reported in the state this year has risen to 196, officials said.Five deaths linked to the disease have been reported during June.The statement said Kozhikode and Wayanad have recorded the highest number of cases this month.Outbreaks have been declared in Kozhikode (36 cases), Wayanad (18), Thrissur (11) and Alappuzha (3).Other districts reporting Shigella cases during June include Malappuram (16), Thiruvananthapuram (15), Kollam (8), Kannur (7), Idukki (3), Ernakulam (2) and Palakkad (1).The minister said the three people who had been under observation at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, after being added to the Nipah patient's contact list, were discharged on Friday, leaving no contacts under hospital observation.A healthcare worker under observation at a private hospital has had her sample collected for testing, the statement said.The test results for all 14 people who developed symptoms and were tested after being identified as contacts of the patient have come back negative, officials said.The Nipah patient continues to remain on ventilator support at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, they said.Nipah is a zoonotic viral disease that spreads from animals to humans and can also be transmitted through close contact with infected persons.The infection can cause fever, respiratory illness and severe neurological complications, and has a high fatality rate.The statement said no new persons were added to the contact list on Friday.At present, 104 persons remain on the contact list, with four in the very high-risk category, 14 in the high-risk category and 86 in the low-risk category, officials said.Health workers also visited 56 houses in Ward 5 of Ramanattukara municipality, where the patient was reported from.The district control room has so far received 88 calls from the public seeking information and clarification.Health workers continued follow-up with all persons on the contact list, while the District Mental Health Programme has provided psychological support to 118 persons, officials added.