AP sees surge in waterborne diseases

Visakhapatnam: Srikakulam reported nearly 150 acute diarrhoea cases and one death about a month ago. Drinking water samples from the area later tested positive for the dangerous E. coli bacteria. In a similar incident, nearly 30 people in Chandapuram village of Nandigama developed comparable symptoms a few days ago, suspected to have been caused by water contamination or food poisoning.In February, around 80 students at the government tribal welfare ashram school in Devarapalli, in Polavaram district, fell ill with diarrhoea, vomiting, and stomach ailments. In January, Sri Sathya Sai district reported 30 diarrhoea cases linked to suspected food poisoning, while Ananthapuram recorded 22 such cases. A severe outbreak of melioidosis in Turakapalem village near Guntur resulted in several deaths in September last year. The infection was confirmed to have been caused by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei. In another incident, two students died and nearly 100 others contracted jaundice at a tribal welfare hostel in Manyam district, with the outbreak suspected to have been caused by water contamination. These are some examples highlighting how Andhra Pradesh has been witnessing a notable surge in acute diarrhoeal diseases in recent years, with frequent outbreaks reported across various parts of the state. This marks a shift from the earlier dominance of vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, and chickenpox. Over the past three years, the state has reported an average of around 900 cases of waterborne, foodborne, and cholera-related illnesses annually. Investigations into recent outbreaks detected multidrug-resistant microorganisms — including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas species — in water and food samples collected from affected areas. Their presence is a significant concern. E. coli serves as a key indicator of faecal contamination and can cause severe gastrointestinal illness, while Klebsiella and Pseudomonas are opportunistic pathogens capable of causing serious infections. The emergence of drug-resistant strains further complicates treatment, increasing the risk of hospitalisation and mortality. In some cases, outbreaks have also involved Vibrio cholerae, the bacterium responsible for cholera, which can lead to rapid dehydration and death if left untreated.The government has identified multiple systemic gaps contributing to these outbreaks. These include faecal contamination of drinking water sources; leakages in pipelines, particularly where they pass through drains; use of motors that create negative pressure, allowing contaminants to enter; inadequate chlorination; and poorly maintained overhead tanks. Weak monitoring of water quality, delayed referral of patients, and initial treatment by unqualified rural medical practitioners further aggravate the situation. Underreporting of cases also obscures the true scale of the public health challenge.Health minister Satya Kumar Yadav, responding to a question raised in legislative council, said adequate chlorination of drinking water was not carried out for several years under the previous government. "I personally observed in Jaggayyapeta that a water filter had not been replaced for four years. After the NDA government came to power, all necessary steps have been initiated to ensure that drinking water does not get contaminated," he said.CAUSE FOR CONCERN22 diarrhoea cases reported in a hostel at Narsipatnam in Anakapalli districtKurupam village in Parvathipuram Manyam district reported 27 diarrhoea cases9 food poisoning cases reported at Peddathanda Anganwadi centre in A Konduru, NTR district58 gastroenteritis cases reported at Jerrila village in Gudem Kotha Veedhi, ASR districtPedana village in Mangalagiri reported 18 cases of choleraCholera cases also reported from Vijayawada
Check Rajasthan Board 12th Science Result 2026 Here - RBSE 12th Result Live Updates