Gastro in Ludhiana, 500 ill

Barely a few months after the first outbreak, gastroenteritis has again taken hold of Hargobindpura locality of Giyaspura, here.

Barely a few months after the first outbreak, gastroenteritis has again taken hold of Hargobindpura locality of Giyaspura, here. Over 500 people have reported ill, 200 of them children. Since the last outbreak, which killed four persons, the municipal corporation had claimed to have spent lakhs on laying new sewerage pipes and repairing old ones to block sewage from mixing with drinking water. The latest flare-up of the disease has given a lie to these claims. District epidemiologist AS Chawla told TNN that over 500 cases had been reported in the last two days. Two persons, who were serious, had been admitted to the civil hospital. A team, led by Sahnewal senior medical officer S S Dhir, with three paediatricians and seven paramedical staff, had been camping in the area since Tuesday. MC commissioner SK Sharma went to the locality on Thursday afternoon, two days after the outbreak. Minister for higher education Harnam Dass Johar, who also toured the area, criticised Sharma for being lax. Residents have been advised to use drinking water supplied by MC tankers till the situation improves. Sharma said water samples taken from three houses, where people fell ill, had been found to be fit for drinking. He said a leaking sewerage pipe in the area had been repaired. Sharma said the residents preferred community hand-pumps to avoid paying for water supply which was an unhealthy practice. (Source: India Times, Feb 2004)