The outbreak of acute gastroenteritis in Maidolalu village of Bhadravathi taluk has not shown any signs of abating, with five fresh cases reported on Monday.
The doctors at the primary health centre (PHC) in Maidolalu village have treated all the five persons, who complained of stomach ache, vomiting and diarrhoea, by administering intravenous fluids and antibiotics. All five are said to be stable now.
So far, three persons have died and 40 others have been hospitalised in this outbreak of acute gastroenteritis that was reported here on Saturday. Of the 40 patients hospitalised, the stool samples of six have been tested positive for cholera. Contamination of piped drinking water supplied to the residents here by the gram panchayat triggered the outbreak.
Rakesh Kumar K., chief executive officer of the zilla panchayat, told The Hindu that the tests conducted on the samples of water collected from three points in the village had revealed high level of bacterial contamination. High strains of Vibrio Cholerae bacterium, which causes cholera, and E. Coli bacteria were found in the water.
It is suspected that sewage water had entered the underground drinking water supply pipeline in the village through a leakage point. In the wake of the incident, it has been decided to relay the drinking water supply pipeline, he said.
Leaders visit
Meanwhile, Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa and BJP State present B.S. Yeddyurappa, who is the MP for Shivamogga, visited the village separately on Tuesday and consoled the family members of the deceased.
Mr. Yeddyurappa said the failure by the local administration to supply pure drinking water had caused the outbreak. The district administration should henceforth take measures to clean the overhead tanks in rural areas on a regular basis, he said.
Mr. Thimmappa told reporters that the State government would compensate the family members of the deceased as per the existing laws. Stern action will be initiated against the workers of the gram panchayat who failed to ensure supply of pure drinking water to the village, he added.
Both the leaders also visited the private hospital in Shivamogga city and the PHC in Maidolalu village where the patients have been admitted.
