Docs warn against water-borne disease

Infectious Diseases Hospital8217;s resident medical officer B P Patel 8212; who said there were at least 57 patients suffering from Hepatitis-B at his hospital 8212; believes that gastro problems are a round-the-year phenomenon. Last month, the number of patients was a little lower than 100; in the summer, the number was around 200.

At SSG Hospital, senior doctors say they currently treat about 10 patients a day. The number of cases goes down in winter, they say, adding that there are often reports of water getting contaminated in the hospital itself because of a lack of hygiene.

IMA secretary Kamal Jain says that these diseases were probably the most common in Vadodara. He attributed two factors to their spread: Contaminated water supply, especially in the slums, and lack of personal hygiene. What was necessary to counter this, he said, was preventive measures.