Shimla struggles to keep jaundice figures low

Official records show a downward trend of jaundice outbreak in the state capital,but regular reporting of cases has kept the health department on the tenterhooks.

Though the frequency of cases reported in the hospitals has reduced as compared to January when the outbreak took place,danger still looms large. With the summer hitting early this year,the fear that it might spread is bothering the Health department.

So far,a total of 333 cases,including the two cases reported on Sunday and one on Monday at the regional hospital Shimla,have been recorded from localities like Vikas Nagar,New Shimla,Kasumpti,Mehli and Panthaghati. The reason traced for the outbreak was contamination of water from sewer leakage. Till February,a steady number of cases were reported 10 to 15 cases came regularly at the Zonal Deen Dayal Upadhaya Hospital in Shimla.

According to rough estimates,the number is expected to have gone beyond 1,000 as many people reported in private hospitals,clinics,dispensaries and nearly 30 patients had also been admitted at Regional Ayurveda Hospital in Shimla,and these have not been recorded in official files. Chief Medical Officer,Shimla,Dr K K Rattan said,The outbreak seems to have completed a full cycle as only a few cases from jaundice affected pockets are coming in. But we are alert and joint committee of the Irrigation Public Health,Municipal Corporation and the Health department,are constantly keeping a check on the quality of water.

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