Six fresh cholera cases reported

MYSORE: As people try to beat the heat with ice creams and fruit juices, they are exposing themselves to the risk of cholera. The district has recorded six fresh cases of the disease.
According to information provided by the health department, two cholera cases were reported in the city last week, two at Nanjangud taluk and two at Yelwala. The culprit is said to be contaminated water.
District health officer Dr S N Malegowda told TOI that all the cases were a result of consuming contaminated water. Public have to avoid roadside food and water this summer, he advised.
To beat the summer heat people from all walks of life are depending on street-side food like fruits, fruit salad, and ice-cream and fruit juices. Road-side stalls have mushroomed across the city near DC office, high court, palace, zoo, near temples, schools, colleges and many other places.
The health department is now leaving no stone unturned to create awareness among citizens about food and water hygiene. Pamphlets about safe drinking water and hygienic food are being distributed to residents and awareness on the same is published in local journals. Officials and volunteers from the department are visiting houses to create awareness about the intake of boiled and cooled water, cleaning water tanks with bleaching water and avoiding roadside food.
In the last week, the health department of Mysore City Corporation convened a meeting of its officers and decided to send circulars and messages to every hotel and roadside vendor to maintain food and water hygiene.
Health officer Dr Nagaraj DG told TOI: "The general public can complain to us if restaurants and street vendors don't maintain hygiene and we will take strict action against them." The strict action can come in the form of canceling license too.