Alert in Kozhikode over water-borne diseases

Kozhikode: In the searing summer, the rise in the number of waterborne diseases in the district has sounded the alarm. There is a spurt in the number of cases of hepatitis, typhoid, diarrhea and leptospirosis.

Integrated disease surveillance programme (IDSP) detected 45 leptospirosis, 143 hepatitis A and 14 hepatitis B cases since January.

Typhoid toll has touched 42 of which 18 cases were confirmed. As many as 30 instances of diarrhoea were also registered.

“People have to ensure the quality of water used for drinking and cooking. The drinking water distributed in tankers in hilly areas should be collected from clean sources and the hygiene of the tanks ensured,” district medical officer (DMO) Dr R.L. Saritha said.

She insists that the test results of the water samples should be kept in the water distributing vehicles.

The health officials warn against depending on roadside cool bars in the hot blazing month.

“People have a tendency to throng roadside cool bars for ‘Kulukki Sarbath’ and salted mango, gooseberry, pineapple and other items. There is no surety about the quality of water used in such places,” cautioned an official.

Another concern is the quality of ice used at marriage functions and other parties. Recently, more than 20 persons who attended a wedding at Changaroth near Meppayur got food poison.

Officials advise chlorinating water sources a week before the function. Health workers will visit the spot and undertake precautionary measures if any water body is found to be unhygienic.