3 BMCRI hostellers test positive for cholera, total rises to 10 in Bengaluru

According to Dr Ramesh Krishna, dean and director of the BMCRI, the stool samples of all the patients have been sent for culture and sensitivity tests. The test results confirmed three positive cases through the hanging drop method and culture yields for vibrio cholera, said health officials.

Randeep D, commissioner of health and family welfare said, “We have directed all government and private hospitals to report positive cholera cases on the integrated health information system. As of today, 10 positive cases of cholera have been reported in Bengaluru. We are now mapping the cases geographically to find out whether these are sporadic cases or cluster-based outbreaks. Our teams have been dispatched to all the infected areas to check the contamination levels of water sources and also to check if there is any sort of water leakage.”

He also said patients who have tested positive for cholera will be treated with the right electrolyte balance through ORS drinks and the right kind of hydration.

Meanwhile, all the hostel girls are stable according to health officials at Victoria Hospital. The water samples from the hostel have tested negative for cholera. Further, measures like closure of the kitchen and its disinfection, supply of food and water to the students from Victoria Hospital’s kitchen and supply of filtered water to the students are being undertaken.

Krishna brought it to the notice of the principal secretary, medical education department, that neither the warden nor the students of the girls’ hostel have brought to his notice any issue at the girls’ hostel.

Krishna also brought to notice that there is a gross shortage of hostel facilities for the BMCRI students, as the number of students has increased and the BMCRI is also accommodating students from the Government Dental College and Research Institute, Bangalore. According to officials, the government has a plan to construct an additional hostel at Palace Road, Gandhinagar at an approximate budget of Rs 56 crore.

Following a meeting, Mohammad Mohsin, principal secretary of the medical education department, instructed the food inspector Dr Suresh to visit all the kitchens at the BMCRI and attached hospitals and inspect, report and advise regarding food hygiene in the kitchens of all hostels.

He has also ordered the suspension of existing ladies hostel warden Dr Akhilandeshari from the post with immediate effect. Further, the dean and director of the BMCRI has been instructed to constitute a Hostel Committee for the management of all the hostels and hold regular monthly meetings and visits to the hostel premises.

The medical education department has also ordered to replace the cook of the girls’ hostel immediately with a professional cook or call for a tender. The head of the security agency was instructed to maintain strict security at the ladies hostel premises and also instructed to remove all unauthorized vehicles from the hostel campus.

The house keeping agency has been instructed to ensure regular cleaning of all the floors, kitchens and toilets of the ladies hostel on a shift basis. It was also instructed to stop manual attendance at the girls’ hostel and to immediately install biometric attendance.