Date:10/11/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/11/10/stories/2009111051850300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Vellore

Diarrhoeal outbreak in Paravathur, 10 hospitalised

P.V.V. Murthi

24 cases reported in the last four days

Drinking water got contaminated in the recent rain
Antibiotics given to the neighbours of affected patients

VELLORE: Ten residents of the Adi Dravida Colony in Paravathur village near Arakkonam have been admitted to various government hospitals following an outbreak of diarrhoea in the village in the last four days.

According to K.S.T. Suresh, Deputy Director of Health Services (DDHS), Vellore, it has been caused by the contamination of drinking water with sewage water owing to the practice of residents digging pits of two to three feet depth in front of their houses to get good pressure to draw water.

In the rain the pits got filled. Since open defecation is practised, the faecal matter washed away by the rainwater mixed with the drinking water. The consumption of this contaminated water has led to the outbreak of diarrhoea. In one particular house, the owner had used a motor to suck water, which also facilitated the contamination.

About 24 cases from Paravathur Adi Dravida Colony were reported to the Government Hospitals in Arakkonam and Sholinghur in the last four days. Four each were admitted to the Government Hospitals in Arakkonam and Sholinghur, while two patients were referred to the Communicable Diseases Hospital, Tondiarpet, Chennai.

When asked about the reported death of two of the patients (both women) from Paravathur colony purportedly because of the outbreak, Dr.Suresh denied that the deaths were caused by diarrhoea. One of the women–an old lady–died a natural death, while the other died due to an attack of epilepsy.

Leaks plugged

The DDHS said that the prophylactic doses of antibiotics were given to the neighbours of the affected patients.

The local bodies have plugged the leaks in the drinking water pipelines and cleaned the overhead tank in the Paravathur colony.

The Block Development Officer of Arakkonam has been asked to take steps to close the pits in front of the houses after implementing an alternative safe drinking water supply scheme.

The public have been advised to drink only boiled water, he said.