East Kol man season's 1st cholera hosp admission
The hospital informed the relevant authorities, including the health department and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC). Civic officials have taken water samples and sent them for testing, while a survey has been launched in the patient's locality to see if anyone else has symptoms of the waterborne disease.
Afroz Khan's family said he was admitted to Apollo Multispecialty Hospital on Thursday night with vomiting, stomach pain, and dehydration.
Investigative tests on Friday confirmed a cholera infection.
"His condition is stable and improving. He is being treated in the general ward as he does not need intensive care. We expect him to be discharged in a couple of days," said a relative.
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Sources said Khan, an accountant in a private firm, was working from home for a month. Although doctors suspect either contaminated water or food to be the cause of the infection, none of his three family members have any cholera symptom.
According to Khan's family, they drink tap water supplied by KMC.
Though cases of cholera have decreased significantly in the city, health experts said a few cases are not unusual, especially during the monsoon. "We haven't got any cholera case this year. But a few cases during monsoon are not uncommon," said microbiologist Bhaskar Narayan Chaudhuri of Peerless Hospital.
A diarrhoeal disease caused by the bacteria Vibrio cholerae, cholera is associated with the monsoon, particularly in areas with inadequate sanitation and limited access to safe water. Heavy rain, flooding, and stagnant water create favourable conditions for the bacteria, leading to higher risk of an outbreak in and after monsoon. "We have collected water samples from the patient's building," said a KMC official, adding that a survey is being launched in Topsia-Tiljala, which is prone to waterborne diseases in monsoon, to check for others with cholera symptoms or any other waterborne infection.
The water department is also thinking of increasing the chlorination dosage if required.
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