Bengaluru: One patient continues to be treated, while 21 others have been discharged from St John’s Hospital admitted after a severe case of gastroenteritis outbreak in the city last week.
“We are treating all cases as acute gastroenteritis and not as cholera. Of them, five have been reported positive in the culture test, but that does not confirm it," said Dr Sunanda T.K., District Surveillance Officer, Bengaluru Urban District. She said that they have found drinking water issues at the site and issued a notice to Shobha Developers.
27 labourers have been consulted from among 72 suspected cases, who presented symptoms of loose stools and dehydration. “They are being treated at the 24x7 clinic set up at the site. Solid waste has been cleared and an RO plant installed at the site. Labourers have been told to drink clean water," she said.
The sudden outbreak has raised some serious concerns about public health and cholera. “Hand hygiene and drinking clean water becomes essential in preventing cholera. It presents itself with high fever, vomiting, loose stools and dehydration. Since the bacteria attacks the intestine, there is more intestinal movement to flush out toxins," explained Dr Ansar Ahmed from the Isolation Hospital, who stressed that the public do not need to panic.
Overcrowding along with bad hand hygiene and unhygienic drinking water are the main reason for getting the infection. “In crowded places, chances of infection spreading become a big problem. Also, when people shake hands or share water with the infected person, there are high chances of catching it," warned Dr Ahmed.
Meanwhile, authorities continued to maintain that all cases reported are of acute gastroenteritis and the city should not panic about a cholera scare.
