Jamshedpur: With rising cases of jaundice and malaria diseases being reported at Bhuiyandih area of Jamshedpur since the past fortnight,a two-member medical team of district health department has started probe.
East Singhbhum district civil surgeon, Maheshwar Prasad has set up a medical team for Bhuiyandih.The department has also shot up a letter to utilitity company, Jusco, to get the drinking water being supplied in the locality examined to see whether it has become contaminated.
�After getting report we have started an enquiry of Bhuiyandih area for jaundice and malaria after we got to know that these diseases are rampant there due to filthy water making its entry into the household. We will take measures for preventing them from spreading further,” said Prasad.
The two-members who are in the team are district malaria officer, Arvind Lal and Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme’s (IDSO) nodal officer Sahir Paul.
The civil surgeon pointed out that the medical team will visit the houses where the cases of jaundice and malaria as well as typhoid were reported.
Prasad said as Jusco has proper infrastructure for getting quality of drinking water checked up, they have also written to extend support for checking the water samples of the affected area.
The civil surgeon, when queried, stated that they will take the corrective measures only after getting the feedback of the medical team.
About 300 houses located downland in Bhuiyandih are the most affected. In absence of proper drainage system, the filthy waters overflows from drain and enters into the houses of the locality called Bramhan Colony.
Significantly, in 2018 July, nearly 350 persons were affected by Jaundice in the densely populated Dhatkidih locality, close to posh addresses like Northern Town and Circuit House, prompting the district health department to conduct health camps in the area and Jusco conducting its internal probe into the reason for the outbreak.
The Steel City has been reeling under a jaundice outbreak. Contamination of water was suspected with differing claims. There is no lab in the state for testing water for jaundice viruses. Though civic body JNAC and JUSCO are busy fighting for the smart city tag, but people are still continue to suffer. Quacks are having a field day and city residents are at the mercy of God. The district health department has set up a mobile health unit at Dhatkidih, an area hit by outbreak of jaundice.