10 Dead, Dozens Sick With Diarrhoeal Disease In MP. Food & Water Contamination Suspected Cause

Mandla District Epidemic Control Officer Dr Yatindra Jharia says health teams are working to bring the situation under control as well as spread awareness. 

Diarrhoea is a symptom of infections caused by a host of bacterial, viral and parasitic organisms, most of which are spread by faeces-contaminated water.

Source : PTI

Seven people have died and 150 have taken ill due to diarrhoea and water-borne diseases in Madhya Pradesh’s tribal-dominated Mandla district over the past 10 days. According to a PTI report, the deceased include five women and a child. Three similar deaths have also been reported from Umaria.

Mandla District Epidemic Control Officer Dr Yatindra Jharia reported that the deceased were from the Devraha Bahmani village of Ghughri block and Madhopur village under Bichhia block, and suffered from diarrhoea, mostly caused by food and water contamination.

Dr Jharia said 150 people are sick because of diarrhoea and water-borne diseases in the two blocks. Several patients from the Ghughri block have been referred to the district hospital for treatment. 

He said that health teams are working to bring the situation under control as well as spread awareness. 

On Friday, three men, including a father-son duo, died due to diarrhoea and six others reported similar symptoms in two villages in Umaria district, an official told PTI. 

A team of medics, doctors, epidemiologists and revenue officials has been sent to the two villages, the official added. 

When asked about the cause of the outbreak, area Medical Officer Dr K.L. Baghel told PTI that they suspected water contamination. He added that hand pumps are the only source of potable water in the two villages, which are situated 2 to 3 km apart and about 70 km from the district headquarters.

Officials from the Public Health Engineering Department have been sent to test the water from the two villages, he told PTI.

Following the outbreak, the area health supervisor has been suspended, and two other officials received show-cause notice as the cases came to light. 

Preventing Diarrhoea

According to the World Health Organization, diarrhoea is a symptom of infections caused by a host of bacterial, viral and parasitic organisms, most of which are spread by faeces-contaminated water.

The health organisation states that a significant proportion of diarrhoeal disease can be prevented through access to safe drinking water, improved sanitation, hand washing with soap, and good personal and food hygiene.