Two cases of cholera have been detected at Dyavappanahalli in Belur taluk in the district on Saturday.
On Thursday (April 28, 2011), as many as 12 people of the village were hospitalised after they complained of vomiting and diarrhoea soon after consuming contaminated water.
On Friday, the district health officials sent samples of drinking water and samples of stool of patients for laboratory tests. The results of the tests that arrived on Saturday indicated that two patients are suffering from cholera.
As per the latest reports from the Health Department, at least 75 people in the village have taken ill after consuming contaminated water. Among them, the condition of two persons is said to be serious.
District Health Officer Bheeshmachar told The Hindu that the department had sent samples of water and stool of two patients, who were among the first to show symptoms of cholera, for laboratory tests. As the results have confirmed that the two patients have cholera, the department will now consider all other cases in the village as suspected cholera cases.
The two patients, whose condition is serious, are Thimme Gowda (60) and Nanjamma (43). They are being treated at the Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital.
Temporary clinics
The district administration has set up temporary clinics at the anganwadi centre and the community hall in Dyavappanahalli. Dr. Bheeshmachar said that the temporary clinics will function at least for the next 10 days.
In the village with a population 650, at least one person in each family is showing symptoms of cholera. Around 20 medical staff has been deployed to the village to treat the patients. The district administration has rushed an ambulance and medicines to the village.
Dr. Bheeshmachar said that unhygienic surroundings and the present climate are some of the factors that have led to the spread of cholera.
He said that the patients who are being treated are also suffering from dehydration. “We have provided health education to the village people and instructed the authorities concerned to arrange for supplying safe drinking water. The Health Department has taken necessary steps to stop the spread of the disease”, he said.
ZP president Chandre Gowda and the former Rajya Sabha member H.K. Javare Gowda were among those who visited the village.
