Rajkot has seen a cholera outbreak, with two cases detected in the city, according to Jayesh Vakani, the medical officer of health for the Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC).
This comes after a notification was issued by Collector Prabhav Joshi on July 5 under the Epidemic Diseases Act. The notification states that any area within a 2-kilometer radius from where a cholera case is reported should be declared as affected by cholera. Vakani explained, “It will be in force for a period of two months. The localities include Lohanagar, where two cholera cases were detected, railway crossing, and Gondal road. Food items made from ice have been banned under the notification till September 4.”
Cholera is a severe diarrheal infection caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with the Vibrio cholerae bacteria. It can lead to severe diarrhea, dehydration, and can be fatal if not treated.
A preliminary investigation suggested the outbreak might have started due to contaminated water brought from outside the city. Vakani, who has been appointed as the cholera control officer by the collector, mentioned, “Some people living in Lohanagar are into selling fish. They bring fish from the outskirts and store it in a small pit in their house before selling it after some days. Contamination in that water might have led to two cases of cholera. As per the rule, an area is declared as cholera affected if even one case is registered.”
To manage the situation, 25 teams have been deployed to conduct surveys and identify suspected cases. Around 1,500 residents in the affected areas are being closely monitored. Vakani added, “Through the notification, we have also informed all government and private hospitals in Kalol to keep a close watch on patients and inform the authorities if they come across any suspected case.”
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