Diarrhoea outbreak: Four samples test positive

Tribune News Service
Patiala, June 19

Four out of the six stool samples collected from the diarrhoea-hit Bathonia village have tested positive for cholera. The samples collected on Sunday confirmed the outbreak of cholera in the Bathonia village.

According to the report, the four samples tested at the Mata Kaushalya Hospital Civil Hospital showed the presence of vibrio cholerae bacteria. The bacteria in the stool samples are an indication of sewage or animal waste contamination in drinking water.

It is pertinent to mention that diarrhoea is a disease in which a patient suffers from vomiting and loose motions. However, cholera is an infectious disease, which is caused by mixing of sewage in drinking water, leading to outbreak of dirrohoea. 

Vibrio cholerae, the bacterium that causes cholera, is usually found in food or water contaminated by faeces of a person, who is suffering from infection. 

The Health Department, on Tuesday, confirmed mixing of sewage with drinking water due to illegal connections, which led to the cholera outbreak. Health experts said detection of the bacteria in even one case confirmed cholera outbreak.

Dr Gurmeet Singh, district epidemiologist, said, “The presence of the Vibrio cholerae confirms our claim of mixing drinking water and sewage. In Bathonia village, the contamination of water is due to illegal water connections.” Health experts said, “It the same story every year. People fall prey to water-borne diseases due to illegal water connections.”

DC visits village after three days

Deputy Commissioner (DC), Patiala, Kumar Amit, visited the affected Bathonia village on Wednesday, three days after the outbreak of cholera. During his visit, the DC met officials of District Health and Water Supply and Sanitation Departments and directed them to find out the cause of the outbreak. 

He said Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and Member of Parliament (MP) Preneet Kaur were keeping a close watch on the matter. He directed officials of the Water Supply and Sanitation Department to cut illegal and open water connections.