Diarrhoea outbreak in Vijayawada: Cause under investigation

The latest victim, 60-year-old Galla Koteswar Rao from Moghalrajpuram, succumbed to vomiting and loose stools.

Dozens of residents from Moghalrajpuram, Prajasakthi Nagar, Radha Nagar, and Rajiv Nagar have been hospitalised with similar symptoms. Initial reports attributed the outbreak to contaminated water supplied by the municipal corporation.

However, test results on water samples from households have come back negative for contamination. Municipal authorities suggest the illnesses may be due to the changing weather conditions.

Responding to Rao’s death, Vijayawada Municipal Corporation’s chief medical and health officer (CMHO), Dr Rathnavali, clarified, “The deceased had a history of chronic illnesses and succumbed to kidney failure, not diarrhoea.” Dr Rathnavali further stated that the corporation conducted blood tests on hospitalised patients, including sugar, creatinine, and platelet count. All results were within normal range, suggesting no immediate link to a diarrhoea outbreak.When questioned about the possibility of heatstroke, the health officer acknowledged, “While no heatstroke deaths have been reported, its symptoms like vomiting, dehydration, and loose stools can mimic those of diarrhoea. The recent heatwave could be a contributing factor.”