Date:26/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/26/stories/2007062661420500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

12 diarrhoea cases reported in city

Staff Reporter

VIJAYAWADA: As many as 12 people, including eight children, fell ill due to outbreak of diarrhoea in the city on Monday. All the cases were reported from K. L. Rao Nagar in One Town, according to Chief Medical & Health Officer Kolli Srikaruna Murthy.

Dr. Murthy said necessary measures, such as distribution of ORS sachets, had been taken up as soon as diarrhoea cases had come to the notice of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation. He said that the health assistants were asked to collect water samples from all the tail-end water taps, household connections, hotels, restaurants and tea joints for examination. The health assistants would also collect data from private hospitals about the diarrhoea cases on day-to-day basis, he said.

Dr. Murthy suggested that the people consume only boiled and cooled water and avoid non-vegetarian food for the next one week in view of possible contamination. He also said people should avoid consuming stale and left over food. He also urged people to inform the health assistants of any instance of diarrhoea so that the corporation could initiate appropriate steps.