Medical and para medical personnel descended on Poovanur near Nidamangalam in Tiruvarur district on Monday to treat those who had complained of vomiting, diarrhoea and nausea as a result of food contamination.
Preventive measures to contain the spread of infection were also resorted to by the sanitary staff at the village where more than 20 persons had complained of illness after consuming food while at work in a neighbouring village over the past two days.
The villagers had gone to Seenikudikadu, Edakeezhayur and Paruthikottai for work under the Mahatma Gandhi Nation Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme when they consumed “contaminated” food served during lunch time at the work site. They reported dizziness, nausea and vomiting while for many diarrhoea followed.
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The affected were treated at the Nidamangalam and Mannargudi government hospitals.
Following that the Rayapuram Primary Health Centre medical and para medical officials first camped at Poovanur and provided immediate medical attention while a larger team of 27 staff arrived at the village to investigate 324 persons living more than 85 houses of the village.
On Monday, around a dozen people were treated for similar indications even as Tiruvarur Collector M. Mathivanan visited the village and inquired with the affected persons the treatment facilities being extended to them.
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He also directed the officials to ensure chlorination of eight overhead tanks in the village, supply of protected water to the inhabitants and prevent spread of communicable diseases.
Spraying of disinfectants, supply of doxycyclin, paracetamol oral rehydaration solution were being provided to the affected areas and people, Mr. Mathivanan said and added that three medical teams would be camping in the village to monitor the situation for a further three days.
District Rural Development Agency Project Director Ramasamy, Joint Director of Health (in charge) Subramani, Mannargudi RDO Selvasurabhi and others were present.