Dreaded waterborne disease cholera has made a comeback in Kerala with 14 cases reported from Malappuram, Palakkad and Thrissur in a week alone. An average of more than 60 persons is approaching private hospitals in Malappuram seeking treatment for diarrhoea.
"50 to 60 persons come to the hospital daily with diarrhoea and majority of them have infectious diarrhoea," said Sudheesh Kumar, Chief Medical Officer of Amana Hospital in Kuttipuram. Health Department suspects that they might have infected through food consumed from unhygienic local eateries.
Health department has launched an intensive drive to combat a possible outbreak of Cholera. The hotel, which is suspected to have supplied contaminated food, has been shut down and other eateries in the locality were asked to down shutters for four days and directed to undertake measures to disinfect the shops.
"Food items like chutney prepared without heating are suspected to have caused the disease. Vegetables like onion must be properly cleaned before using in chutney and other uncooked food items," said Vijith, medical officer.
Diarrhoea had claimed the life of an elderly woman in Kuttipuram last week. However, Health Department states that an increase in the number of patients is only normal during the rainy season. Of the 14 persons admitted with symptoms of cholera, six are from Tirur and four each from Thrissur and Kuttipuram. People with symptoms of Cholera are under examination in Palakkad district also. In Pattanchery region, three had died of diarrhoea in the past few weeks.The health officials are keeping high vigil in these areas.
