2 cases detected, some areas in Rajkot declared affected by cholera, to be in force for 2 months

Some areas of Rajkot have been declared as cholera-affected after two cases were detected in the city, Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) medical officer of health, Jayesh Vakani, said on Thursday.

This comes after on July 5, a notification was issued by Collector Prabhav Joshi under the Epidemic Diseases Act, stating that an area in a 2-km radius from where a case has been reported should be declared as cholera-affected, Vakani said.

“It will be in force for a period of two months. The localities include Lohanagar, where two cholera cases were detected,

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railway crossing and Gondal road. Food items made from ice have been banned under the notification till September 4,” according to Vakani.

Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It can cause severe diarrhoea, dehydration and prove fatal if untreated.

A preliminary probe has revealed the disease may have started due to contaminated water, which was brought from outside, said Vakani, who has been appointed as cholera control officer by the collector.

“Some people living in Lohanagar are into selling fish. They bring fish from the outskirts and store it in a small pit in their house before selling it after some days. Contamination in that water might have led to two cases of cholera. As per the rule, an area is declared as cholera affected if even one case is registered,” he added.

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The situation is under control with 25 teams being deployed to carry out surveys and find suspected cases, Vakani said, adding that 1,500 residents of these areas are being monitored.

“Through the notification, we have also informed all government and private hospitals in Kalol to keep a close watch on patients and inform the authorities if they come across any suspected case,” he said.