Puducherry health director said some patients have been reported positive for cholera. (Representative)
Puducherry:
Puducherry’s Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services on Sunday declared a ‘public health emergency’ in Karaikal area, an outskirts of the Union Territory, following an outbreak of severe cases of diarrhea in the past few days.
In a release issued by Health Director G Sriramulu, it has been said that a large number of people have been found to be suffering from severe diarrhoea.
“A large number of people were affected by the disease,” he said, adding that samples of drinking water in the area were found not to be good for consumption.
Sriramulu said that some patients have been reported to have cholera.
He said more cases are reported daily in hospitals and special teams of doctors have been formed to take stock of the situation.
He said that steps are being taken to deal with the situation in coordination with the Public Works Department and the municipalities.
He said the contamination of drinking water was reportedly the reason behind the spread of the disease.
People were instructed to drink only boiled water. Hotels and restaurants have also been asked to provide only boiled water, the official said.
An official source told PTI that around 700 people have been admitted to hospitals in Karaikal so far.
Meanwhile, Puducherry education director Rudra Gaur said all schools and colleges will remain closed for three days from Monday “due to cholera outbreak” in the Karaikal region.
However, the board exams for polytechnic colleges will be conducted as per schedule, the director said.
Transport Minister Chandra Priyanka, a resident of Karaikal, reached the area on Saturday and reviewed the situation.
A release from the minister’s office said that PWD minister K Lakshminarayanan said a detailed review of the situation in Karaikal was conducted on Sunday.
The water samples supplied from an overhead tank in the area were taken to assess the water quality, the release said.
Local MLA AMH Najim, District Collector Mansoor and Puducherry Health Director participated in the review of the situation.
Also, Lieutenant Governor Tamilisai Sundararajan held discussions with the Health Department officials from Telangana (of which he is the Governor) via video-conference and directed the officials to take immediate steps to contain the spread of the disease.
A release from the Lt Governor’s office said that he asked the health department to ensure supply of ORS packets to the patients to protect them from the effects of diarrheal disease.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)