Jamshedpur, Aug. 19: Even as water receded from low lying areas of the city a jittery district administration, already battling viral menace, is not prepared to take chances against an imminent diarrhea outbreak.
Administration is conducting round the clock visit in the areas inundated by swelling of Subernarekha and Kharkhai rivers at Bagbera, Mango, Shastrinagar and Jugsalai areas.
Officials of health department said that they are worried as two of the worst affected areas in the recent viral epidemic Bagbera and Mango localities had large areas inundated by the flash flood like situation.
With Steel City�s weather at its unpredictable best, there has been a rise in cases of water-borne diseases in the city.
Hospitals in the city are reporting an increased incidence of gastroenteritis (GE) and cases with symptoms of cholera. Water contamination, especially in low-lying areas that were inundated in the recent rain, is said to be the reason.
If the reports from the various nursing homes and doctors of the city are to be believed then every day 15-20 cases of dysentery or nausea are being reported.
Majority of the food poisoning cases are witnessed after consuming food and liquids in marriages, get-togethers, parties, picnics and consuming street food and juices, which are easily available at many places in the city.
Sources in nursing homes informed since past one week the cases with symptoms of dysentery, nausea and severe abdominal cramps have increased.
�We are following the directive of health director in letter and spirit. Apart from routine drive of spraying larvicidal and bleaching powder in places affected by viral outbreaks and submerged by water we have planned a massive sensitisation campaign on public amplifier and distribution of pamphlets about preventive steps against vector and also against hygienic steps like drinking boiled water, avoiding open foods, eating only after washing hands in the affected areas to prevent spread of diarrhea,� they said.
Notably, the district health officials are planning to distribute pamphlets in Urdu in Muslim dominated areas of Kapali and Daiguttu which were also submerged yesterday.
The local urban bodies namely Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC), Mango Notified Area Committee (MNAC), Jugsalai municipality and corporate sector Jusco providing civic amenities in Tata Steel command areas have been asked to initiate fogging in the areas on war footing.
Administrative officials are personally supervised distribution of oral rehydration salts (ORS) solutions at the health camps in Bagbera and at temporary shelters in Shastrinagar and Mango areas.
