15 fresh cholera cases in Holalu

A cholera patient being attended to by medical staff at the primary health centre at Holalu in Mandya district on Sunday.

As many as 15 more cases of cholera were reported on Sunday in Holalu village where a farmer died of the epidemic.

Nearly 150 persons, including women and children, are down with cholera in the village for the past four days. While a majority of them were discharged after medical treatment, 40 villagers are admitted in different hospitals.

Fresh cases

Speaking to

The Hindu on Sunday, Mandya District Health Officer T.N. Marigowda said that the number of cholera cases has seen a rise at Holalu.

Of the 15 new cases, nine have been referred to the Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS) Hospital here after the patients were administered first aid at the Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Holalu.

“All of them are out of danger now,” Dr. Marigowda said.

Drive

The district administration launched a drive on Sunday in the wake of the rise in the number of cholera cases in the village.

Following instructions from Deputy Commissioner B.N. Krishnaiah, Assistant Commissioners Shantha L. Hulmani (Mandya) and B. Vani (Pandavapura) held emergency meetings of officials in the seven taluks in the district.

Meetings

While Ms. Hulmani held meetings at Mandya, Maddur and Malavalli taluks, Ms. Vani conducted meetings at Pandavapura, Nagamangala, Srirangapatna and K.R. Pet taluks. Officials from Revenue, Health and other departments attended the meetings.

“We visited the taluk panchayat offices and instructed the officials concerned to take steps to educate people besides preventing the spread of the disease,” Ms. Vani said.

The officials were instructed to distribute pamphlets among the people asking them to “keep their surroundings clean, observe basics of personal hygiene and to drink boiled water”.

Door-to-door visit

The Mandya District Health and Family Welfare Department has deputed around 100 personnel, including doctors, para-medical staff and health workers, at Holalu.

“They are visiting houses, distributing medicines to check effects of drinking contaminated water, and monitoring the health conditions of villagers,” Dr. Marigowda said.

Pure water

Holalu residents have urged the district administration to ensure “uninterrupted supply of safe drinking water” to their village.

39 borewells

Several villagers said that the gram panchayat has failed to address problems associated with water supply in the village.

The village has 39 borewells, of which water in 11 is reportedly “not fit for drinking”, the villagers said.

“At present, the officials are providing pure drinking water in tankers. But, we need such water throughout the year,” Nagaraju, a farmer, said.

Holiday

The district administration has declared holidays for educational institutions in the village till October 30. It has instructed owners of meat stalls, hotels and shops to suspend business until further notice.