Cholera comes to Bengaluru: Civic body confirms 7 cases, more in private hospitals

Apart from these seven cases in government hospitals, over 10 more are admitted in private hospitals.

Cases have been reported from Neelasandra, Sarjapura, LR Nagar, RT Nagar, Malleshwaram, Goripalya, Basavangudi, Vijayanagara, Padmanabhanagara, and BTM Layout areas in the city.

“As these cases are not mushrooming from a single point and are from different areas instead, terming the situation an ‘outbreak’ is not right. However, it is a serious matter of concern and health teams across all zones of the BBMP will take care of the issue promptly to contain it,” Vijendra added.

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The exact reason for the sudden burst of cases in the city is yet to be ascertained, he added.
Incidentally, this is the first time cholera cases are being reported in Bengaluru after 2016, except one recorded in 2019.

Water supply was stopped in some areas, including Old Bagalur Layout, during the weekend after some cases were reported here, BBMP officials said.

“Following four possible cases reported from Bangalore Baptist Hospital, it was decided to ask the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) to stop supplying water to the area. Instead, water tankers have been deployed for residents,” an official from the BBMP health department said.

The official said this arrangement will continue till the source of the infection is detected.

Meanwhile, Brigadier R S Murthy (retd), president of HSR Layout Sector-2 residents’ welfare association, said some residents had raised the issue of contaminated water supply. “Some residents from HSR Layout had reported getting contaminated water from taps to the civic agencies. As construction of roads, digging up lanes and other development work is in full swing, the possibility of sewage getting mixed with drinking water cannot be denied,” he said.

Murthy further demanded that the BBMP take stringent measures to ensure street food vendors use hygienic ingredients and water.

Private hospitals record more Cholera cases

Three cholera cases have been recorded in Aster CMI Hospital, according to doctors. “All three patients suffering from cholera are in the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU). While another three patients are suspected of the same, their health is improving gradually,” Dr Brunda M S, Consultant, Internal Medicine, Aster CMI Hospital, said.

She added that the primary cause of infection are unhygienic street food and contaminated water. “Hence we should practise drinking safe and clean water and should avoid street food. Washing hands frequently is mandatory as a precautionary measure,” she added.

Meanwhile, officials of St Johns Medical College Hospital (SJMCH), Koramangala, said seven patients affected by cholera had been admitted since mid-February.

“Patients were from areas of Mangamanapalya, Mathattiblore, Muguluru, Bommanahalli and even Koramangala. All were notified to the authorities through our existing systems and both the BBMP and BWWSB have met our microbiology team for reports,” Dr Sanjiv Lewin, Chief of Medical Services, SJMCH, said.

Similarly, doctors from Narayana Health City in Electronic City, one among Bengaluru’s major IT corridors, said 10 to 15 cases of diarrhea are being reported since last week.

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“The patients are mostly from the age group of 20 to 40 who eat food from outside often. When the episodes of diarrhea go beyond 8 to 10 in a day, contacting a doctor is highly recommended. Also, one needs to start taking oral rehydration solution (ORS) — around 250 ml for each episode of diarrhea to recover,” Dr Mahesh Kumar, Consultant Internal Medicine, Narayana Health City said.

At the same time, several private hospitals in the city have also witnessed a hike in gastroenteritis cases since March 1.
According to health department officials, as many as 80 cases of gastroenteritis due to a possible food poisoning were recorded in Bengaluru urban areas since last week.

While test samples are sent to public health institutes for testing, more medical teams have been deployed on the field to spread awareness on cholera and ways to prevent getting affected, CHO Vijendra said. “Help desks have been set up in urban primary health centres,” he added.