With the summer reaching its peak, jaundice cases are reportedly on the rise in the district, mainly due to the use of unhygienic water at mass gatherings and public functions.
The Health Department’s Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme notes that 17 confirmed cases of Hepatitis A have been reported from the district since April 10. Only 11 such cases were reported in the whole of March; and, there was an outbreak in Koduvally in mid-February.
There has been, however, allegations that the authorities were yet to have the exact number of the affected people. For example, when jaundice outbreak was reported at Kuruvattoor near Kunnamangalam recently, around 50 people had sought treatment at various hospitals in the area within a week. Most of them were worshippers who had eaten food at a local temple.
It was reported that the water from an unused well was used for washing the plates on which the food was served.
The water samples from the well were found to have germs too.
But, the Health Department was at a loss about the actual number of the affected people as at least some of them hailed from different places and they were back home.
Symptoms
An official in the department said that the symptoms of the disease could be noticed and the incidence of the disease could be reported only 20-25 days after the affected people were infected with it. It could be easily passed off as food poisoning too. It was difficult to get the exact data of the affected population if people are infected during public functions like what happened in Kuruvattoor.
Meanwhile, V. Jayashree, District Medical Officer, told The Hindu on Thursday that the department had been creating awareness about the need to maintain hygiene.
Department personnel had chlorinated waterbodies and inspected shops and hotels to contain the disease. Local body authorities too had been given instructions to prevent any eventuality.
