Cholera outbreak in India: With the onset of monsoon, cases of cholera have been detected in two states of India. In Gujarat, some areas of Rajkot were declared as cholera-affected after two cases were detected.
Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It can cause severe diarrhoea, and dehydration and prove fatal if untreated.
According to a report by PTI, the notification declaring an area in a 2-kilometre radius as cholera-affected was issued on July 5 by Collector Prabhav Joshi under the Epidemic Diseases Act.
“It will be in force for two months. The localities include Lohanagar, where two cholera cases were detected, railway crossing and Gondal road. Food items made from ice have been banned under the notification till September 4,” Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) medical officer of health, Jayesh Vakani, said on Thursday as quoted by news agency PTI.
Reportedly, a preliminary probe has revealed the disease may have started due to contaminated water which was brought from outside.
“Some people living in Lohanagar are into selling fish. They bring fish from the outskirts and store it in a small pit in their house before selling it after some days. Contamination in that water might have led to two cases of cholera. As per the rule, an area is declared as cholera affected if even one case is registered,” said Vakani, who has been appointed as cholera control officer by the collector.
Reportedly, the situation is under control with 25 teams being deployed to carry out surveys and find suspected cases, Vakani said, adding that 1,500 residents of these areas are being monitored apart from regular checking of water and food.
“Through the notification, we have also informed all government and private hospitals in Kalol to keep a close watch on patients and inform the authorities if they come across any suspected case,” said Vakani as quoted by PTI.
Cholera outbreak in private care home in Kerala
In Kerala, an outbreak of cholera has been reported at a private care home. According to a report by India Today, after the cholera cases were detected the State Health Department are on alert to strengthen preventive measures to curtail the spread of the disease.
According to state’s Health Minister Veena George, the incident has been reported in Thiruvananthapuram’s Neyyattinkara area. The state health department revealed that initially, the care home residents suspected food poisoning. However, when the disease was reported, the Medical Officer of Perumpazhuthoor Primary Health Centre immediately responded and took necessary measures.
The prevention drive was ramped up after a 10-year-old child residing in a hostel in Thiruvananthapuram was diagnosed with the disease. According to a report by Onmanorama, 22 people are exhibiting symptoms of the disease. Of the 22 suspected cases, 14 are at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital, two are undergoing treatment at the SAT Hospital, and six are at the Iranimuttom Community Health Centre.
What are the symptoms of cholera?
Cholera is an extremely virulent disease. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), most people infected with V. cholerae do not develop any symptoms, although the bacteria are present in their faeces for 1–10 days after infection and are shed back into the environment, potentially infecting other people.
Symptoms of cholera infection can include:
Diarrhea
Nausea and vomiting
Dehydration.
According to Mayo Clinic, cholera dehydration includes irritability, fatigue, sunken eyes, a dry mouth, extreme thirst, dry and shriveled skin that’s slow to bounce back when pinched into a fold, little or no urinating, low blood pressure, and irregular heartbeat.
How cholera is treated?
As the bacterial infection can cause death within hours, the disease requires immediate treatment. Some of the immediate measures include:
Rehydration
Intravenous fluids
Antibiotics
Zinc supplements