Two test positive for cholera

Girl travelling to Jharkand admitted to Sassoon: hospital also confirms another case of 65-year-old

Cholera has arrived in the city. Two persons have tested positive for cholera after their stool samples were sent to the Sassoon General Hospital. Officials at the hospital confirmed that the culture tests at the microbiology lab have indicated vibrio cholerae of the El Tor type, which doctors said is a milder form of the highly infectious bacterial disease. This they said should be reported to the international community.

Dr Anju Kagal, head of microbiology department, said the first sample was of a 16-year-old girl Juhi Kumari Yadav, who was travelling to Jharkand with two friends. "She developed severe diarrhoea and dehydration and had to alight in Pune. She was admitted to Sassoon hospital and was treated here after her sample tested positive for cholera. The second person's stool sample was sent by Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital for confirmation of cholera," said Kagal.

Kagal said the patient was a 65-year-old and refused to divulge further details citing patient confidentiality.

"Even a single case should be taken seriously as this is a highly contagious disease which spreads through contaminated water. People should be sensitised in neighbouring areas to employ safe drinking water and follow hygienic practices," Kagal said.

R R Pardeshi, medical officer, Pune Muncipal Corporation, said he was not aware of any positive cholera case. Dr Rajshekhar Iyer, medical director, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation said that a person had tested positive for cholera this week and he had given instructions to conduct a survey of neighbouring areas to health officer concerned.

However, he did not tell the exact location of the case."I will have to look for the details, it isn't available right now with me," was his reply.

Experts on such infectious diseases said the situation should be monitored closely in affected areas. "It is necessary to alert the health authorities, so that they can monitor closely the areas from which such cases have been notified. The source of contamination in cholera is water and that's why it can affect a large number of people. El Tor is the prevalent bacterium and is a milder form of the disease, nevertheless it can get serious if taken lightly," said Dr Sanjay Pujari.

Dr Sharad Agharkhedkar, president of Indian Medical Association, said that cholera was a serious concern. "Cholera isn't prevalent in western countries and that's why the World Health Organisation should be notified. They can then issue travel alerts and those coming to the affected areas can take a cholera vaccine. A person affected with cholera can suffer from extreme dehydration and it is serious," he said.

Physician Dr Devendra Shirole said as its highly contagiousu00a0 the population that could be infected is not
measurable.