Gastroenteritis breaks out, 300 taken ill

BANGALORE: More than 300 persons have been taken ill over the last one week following a major gastroenteritis outbreak in the city. It is severe in K R Puram and Mahadevapura, affecting mainly children and women.
The spread of the epidemic at the most unusual of seasons could be attributed to the discharge of animal wastes from slaughter houses directly into drains and the subsequent mixing up of sewage and drinking water.It is telling on the residents of Vijinapura, Tin Factory area, Udayanapura, Narayanapura and the surrounding areas of K R Puram and Mahadevapura CMC.
Residents of 1,000-odd households in the area have been rushing to hospitals with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea. Over 200 children and women have been affected by the scourge so far, according to hospital records.
City''s Epidemic Diseases Hospital (Isolation Hospital) alone has registered 100 gastro cases over the past week. A case of typhoid too has been reported from the area.
"We could see a pattern in the bunch of patients coming from different localities for treatment periodically. Accordingly, we''re apprising the CMC and local health department officials of action," said Dr Veeresh Sharma, superintendent, Epidemic Diseases Hospital.
According to K R Puram CMC president L Jayaram, the problem began with some residents making illegal connections into a BWSSB pipeline running along Vijinapura. Animal waste from Darga Mohalla was discharged into the drain and subsequently mixed with the drinking water pipeline.
"My two children, aged three and six, took ill followed by my wife and mother. Officials say they are trying to contain the problem by treating water with bleaching powder, but they are not responding enough," said Manjunath, a truck driver from the Tin Factory area.
Hospitals are alarmed by the magnitude of the outbreak. "This water-borne disease is usually associated with summer."