Jaundice outbreak: 58 fall sick in Bathinda village
BATHINDA : A total of 58 persons have tested positive for jaundice in just four days in Harraipur village on the Bathinda–bajakhana road. The outbreak occurred due to contamination of drinking water, said civil surgeon Dr Amrik Singh.
A team of health officials comprising state epidemiologist Dr Seema Aggarwal and state microbiologist Dr Monika Vashisht and district administration officials visited the village, with a population of about 4400, to take stock of the situation.
With a large number of people complaining of ailments, a team of doctors has been stationed at the village dispensary since September 6, where blood samples are being collected to detect the infection and to provide medicines. At least 10 villagers have been admitted in hospitals for treatment. Although doctors have diagnosed 58 people with jaundice in the past four days, villagers say at least 12 other people are also undergoing treatment at different hospitals.
People had started falling sick about two weeks ago but authorities took notice only last week. Three members of Sukhraj Singh’s family are suffering from jaundice. He said his daughter Manjot Kaur was diagnosed around 15 days ago. “She began going to school after a gap of two weeks after undergoing treatment,” he said, while the other two members were at home in bed.
Civil surgeon Dr Amrik Singh said the outbreak is the result of contaminated drinking water due to leaking water-supply pipes, which have now been plugged. “Some people had been tested positive by the doctors’ team, while others have received treatment at other hospitals. Water supply has been halted from waterworks so that the pipes can be cleaned. Till then water is being provided to the village through tankers,” he said.
Deputy commissioner B Srinivasan said water contamination occurred due to mixing of sewerage in drinking water-supply pipes due to waterlogging in the village during rains. “No one who tested positive for jaundice is in a serious condition,” he added.