143 fall ill from drinking contaminated water in Udupi
Over 1,000 residents of Udupi's Uppunda fell ill after drinking contaminated water from a local tank, causing vomiting and diarrhoea
By : Gururaj A Paniyadi
Update: 2024-10-04 12:44 GMT
Udupi: About 143 people in Uppunda village, located about 60 km from Udupi district headquarters, have reported cases of Acute Diarrhea Disease (ADD) over the last six days.
Residents of two places- Madikal and Karkikali in Uppunda complained of diarrhea, with some suffering from vomiting and fever. To check if water contamination may be the cause, water samples from the main source have been collected and sent for MPN testing at the District Public Health Laboratory (DPHL).
On September 29, a sudden spike in cases of acute diarrhoeal disease was reported in the Uppunda subcentre of Baindur Community Health Centre (CHC). According to official reports, the total population of Madikal and Karkikali is 2,290 (375 houses).
The village’s water supply is sourced from the panchayat, which draws water from three wells at Kasanadi, supplying both Madikal and Karkikali. There are also two other wells near the Uppunda panchayat area.
Officials confirmed that water samples from the Kasanadi wells and the Uppunda panchayat well were collected and sent for MPN testing at DPHL, while two stool samples were sent for culture analysis. The results are awaited.
“Our teams have conducted door-to-door visits and identified 142 cases so far. Of these, 78 cases were reported on September 30, followed by 24 on October 1. In the next three days, 15, 23, and 3 cases were reported, respectively. We have taken all necessary precautionary measures and are creating awareness among the people.
None of the cases are severe,” District Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr Ishwar Gadad told Deccan Chronicle.
Udupi Deputy Commissioner Dr Vidyakumari K said that officials have visited the houses and as a precautionary measure arrangements have been made to provide water through tankers in the rural area in Uppunda where diarrhea was reported.
Residents of two places- Madikal and Karkikali in Uppunda complained of diarrhea, with some suffering from vomiting and fever. To check if water contamination may be the cause, water samples from the main source have been collected and sent for MPN testing at the District Public Health Laboratory (DPHL).
On September 29, a sudden spike in cases of acute diarrhoeal disease was reported in the Uppunda subcentre of Baindur Community Health Centre (CHC). According to official reports, the total population of Madikal and Karkikali is 2,290 (375 houses).
The village’s water supply is sourced from the panchayat, which draws water from three wells at Kasanadi, supplying both Madikal and Karkikali. There are also two other wells near the Uppunda panchayat area.
Officials confirmed that water samples from the Kasanadi wells and the Uppunda panchayat well were collected and sent for MPN testing at DPHL, while two stool samples were sent for culture analysis. The results are awaited.
“Our teams have conducted door-to-door visits and identified 142 cases so far. Of these, 78 cases were reported on September 30, followed by 24 on October 1. In the next three days, 15, 23, and 3 cases were reported, respectively. We have taken all necessary precautionary measures and are creating awareness among the people.
None of the cases are severe,” District Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr Ishwar Gadad told Deccan Chronicle.
Udupi Deputy Commissioner Dr Vidyakumari K said that officials have visited the houses and as a precautionary measure arrangements have been made to provide water through tankers in the rural area in Uppunda where diarrhea was reported.