CHENNAI: As many as 150 people have fallen sick so far after the outbreak of an acute diarrhoeal disease (ADD) in Taramani, allegedly due to water contamination. They have been admitted to Government Royapettah General Hospital and Tondiarpet Communicable Disease Hospital since December 15-20.
The worst affected areas are Mahatma Gandhi Nagar, Kamarajar Street, Anna Street, Karumariamman Koil streets in Taramani.
Over 20 mobile medical teams from the Directorate of Public Health (DPH), Directorate of Medical Services (DMS), Directorate of Medical Education (DME) and some in collaboration with Chennai Corporation have been screening people for communicable diseases. The mobile medical teams are also doing door-to-door water chlorination check.
“Water contamination is the recurring problem here. However, it got worse after the cyclone.
When we went to complain to the officials, they gave rude replies saying ‘it is same everywhere after the rains, and what is special about your complaint’,” rued K M Aysha, resident of Janda Street.
“Now, only after the outbreak, all medical officers and doctors team are camping in Taramani.
There must have been a leak somewhere in sewer line connection and drinking water supply line,” said Eswari, a resident of Karumariamman Street.
“My elder sister had diarrhea and also started vomitting. We immediately rushed her to Government Royapettah General Hospital, from there they referred her to Tondiarpet Communicable Disease Hospital saying ‘suspected cholera’. Now, they have put her on IV fluids and doctors said, she is recovering,” said S Kanimozhi, a resident of Karumariamman First Street.
Official sources said the cases started reporting from December 15 and they had admission till Wednesday. In Government Royapettah General Hospital alone, over 10 cases were treated as outpatients and three were admitted. From there, one patient was referred to Tondiarpet CDH.
Speaking to Express, Dr K Kolandaswamy, Director of Public Health said, “there are only 22 cases of acute diarrhoeal disease, admitted to Tondiarpet CDH as on Wednesday,” he added.
Kolandaswamy further said contact treatment and control measures have been taken in the area. However, he denied the allegation of cholera outbreak.
He also denied over 150 have fallen sick and also any cases treated in Royapettah Government General Hospital.