Diarrhoea affects 44 in old Vizag town, 9 hospitalised

District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) P. Jagadiswara Rao told this correspondent on Friday that the first incident of diarrhoea had been reported on November 25. The department immediately set up round the clock medical camps, surveying every house for new complaints.“No new cases have been reported. Consumption of contaminated water could be the reason for the outbreak,’’ the DMHO stated. He pointed out that people in the locality have been advised to boil water before drinking it and keep their premises clean.GVMC chief medical officer Dr. Naresh Kumar, however, maintained that the outbreak is not due to contaminated water. He said they have conducted lab tests of water samples. He underlined that the water being supplied by GVMC is safe.

Regarding the death of a four-year-old girl that media reported as being due to diarrhoea, Dr. Naresh Kumar clarified that the girl died due to cardiovascular issues.

Incidentally, diarrhoea had also broken out in Gajuwaka area last week, resulting in hospitalisation of 26 people.“Following improvement, we have withdrawn the medical camp in Gajuwaka.

However, health personnel, including ANMs, are scouting the industrial area for fresh cases,” DMHO Jagadiswara Rao stated.