Two Bengaluru students test positive for Cholera after 47 hospitalised
Bengaluru, Apr 6: Two students from Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute who were hospitalised with others after they complained of loose stools and dehydration have tested positive for cholera, officials said on Saturday.
This comes a day after 47 students from the same institute were hospitalised with similar symptoms.
Dr Padma MR of the state surveillance unit, under the Department of Health and Family Welfare, said that the cultures of two students have come back positive for cholera.
Following the incident, Principal Secretary of Medical Education Department and the Chairperson of Women's Commission visited the hospital and the Girls Hostel.
ALSO READ: 47 students from BMCRI hospitalised following complaints of loose stools, dehydration
According to Ramesh Krishna, Dean and Director of BMCRI, 47 students from the Institute's girls' hostel were admitted to Victoria Hospital on Friday.
All of them suffered from loose stools and dehydration. They have been diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis.
"Forty-seven students suffering from acute gastroenteritis were admitted to Victoria hospital from the girls hostel of BMCRI with a history of loose stools and weakness. The stool samples of all the patients were sent for culture and sensitivity test," he said.
"As stated in the reports, two patients have tested positive by hanging drop method and culture yelds vibrio Cholera (serotype ogawa) and one patient tested positive by hanging method and culture report is awaited," he added.
"Treatment in the form of antibiotics and IV fluids is being given for all the patients. However, the water samples from the girls hostel have tested negative for Cholera," he further said.
Citing some of the preventive measures being taken in the girls hostel, Krishna said disinfection of the kitchen was being carried out after closing it. Food and water was being supplied from Victoria Hospital kitchen. Pest control measures are also being taken, he said.
The Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Department had on Friday said that six confirmed cases of cholera have been reported in the state so far this year of which five were reported in March.
Amid reports that extreme heat compounded with the water crisis has led to a scare of a cholera outbreak, the department however clarified that all these cases are “sporadic” and that there was no outbreak.
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13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
