Patiala, June 16
More than 50 persons, including children, have taken ill at Shamdo camp in Rajpura with symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting. An inquiry has been ordered into the matter.
Of these, health officials say 24 have been admitted to the Civil Hospital, Rajpura, while the rest are being given adequate treatment at home.
They said two infants, aged two and three, respectively, had died in the past two days but the exact cause of their death was being ascertained.
Patiala Civil Surgeon Raju Dhir, who visited the site, said health officials had been positioned at the village to provide treatment. “We received a number of patients from a specific area at the Civil Hospital with symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting. Thereafter, we pressed our teams into service and carried out a door-to-door survey. The area has a population of around 18,000,” he said.
He said the Health Department had created a temporary dispensary in the area, where more than 80 patients were examined today. “We found a few patients during the door-to-door survey, who were referred to the hospital,” he added.
As of now, the health officials had collected water samples from different sources in the area and would be sent for testing
“Most likely, the issue has evolved from drinking water. Therefore, we have collected water samples from the area. We will carry out further investigations once the reports are received,” he said.
The Civil Surgeon said two infant deaths were reported within two days. “One of them was ill for the past 10 days. We have directed the officials concerned to carry out their death audit to know the cause.”
Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney said: “An inquiry has been ordered into the matter of diarrhoea cases. Prima facie the cause is consumption of sweetened water at a ‘chabeel’. Officials concerned have collected water samples from the area.”
Over 50 taken ill with ‘diarrhoea’ in Rajpura
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