Karnataka health dept debunks claims of rise in cholera cases: ‘Only 6 reported this year’

“There have been six cases this year. There is no incidence of multiple cases in any one locality. There may be diarrhoea cases but not cholera,” the health commissioner said in a briefing held amid reports of increasing incidence of diarrhoea as temperatures soar.

On Friday, 47 students from the girls’ hostel of Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI) were admitted to Victoria Hospital after they complained of loose stools and dehydration. Three of the students are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

BMCRI Director and Dean Dr Ramesh Krishna said, “All (the girls) presented with loose stools and dehydration. Diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis, all are stable. Investigations have been sent and treatment is being provided in the form of antibiotics and IV fluids. We are awaiting reports.” Doctors are yet to ascertain if any of them have cholera.

‘Diarrhoea and cholera not the same’

The health department has also sought to clarify that “normal diarrhoea is not cholera”. “If cholera organisms are detected in stool then it is considered cholera. Culture test is the gold standard test,” the health commissioner said.

“A person can get cholera from drinking contaminated water or food. Water or food with faecal matter can result in diarrhoea. If there is mixing of sewage and drinking water, it poses a concern. A small per cent can be infected by contact,” he added, while warning against triggering “panic on the spread of cholera”.

“We want to give specific directions to private hospitals not to directly communicate about cases since cholera is a notifiable disease and a communicable disease. They must report as per SOP (standard operating procedure) and it should not be communicated directly to the people or to media,” commissioner Randeep said.

In recent years, the highest incidence of cholera was reported in 2023 when 108 cases were recorded, including 15 in December that year in the Bengaluru Rural region. In 2022, there were 42 cases of cholera, while it was 20 cases in 2021 and 40 in 2020.

The highest number of cholera cases reported in the first quarter of the year was in March 2020 when 23 cases were seen, against an average of five cases seen during the first three months of the year.

Heat-related health issues

The health department on Friday also clarified that two deaths in Karnataka in recent days which were initially attributed to heat stroke, were not found not to be directly linked to heat stroke.

As many as 342 cases of heat rash, 121 cases of heat cramps, and 58 cases of heat exhaustion – amounting to a total of 521 heat-related health cases – have been reported in the state since the health department started recording data on heat-related health issues in March, the health commissioner said. “But no heatstroke cases have been reported,” he added.

“Two cases, one each in Kalaburagi and Bagalkot, were suspected to have been caused by heat stroke. District authorities have since confirmed that one of the deaths was due to cardiac tamponade and the other was caused by myocardial infarction. Hence, no heatstroke deaths have been reported in the state,” he clarified.