iGovernment
18 March 2009
Gandhinagar, India

Over 127 cases of typhoid have been reported in Bavla, Kherala and Bhayla villages on the outskirts of Ahmedabad
Gujarat’s state health department on Tuesday began investigating the causes behind the rising number of typhoid cases among children in the villages of Bavla, Kherala and Bhayla on the outskirts of Ahmedabad.

Over 127 cases of typhoid have been detected by the health authorities in the three villages with 93 children between five to 15 years being admitted to Sola Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad for treatment during the past five days, reports IANS.

The rest of the cases are being treated at the primary health centres of the villages.

“The number of typhoid cases in the three villages rose gradually during the past five days, which made us wait and watch to analyse the situation before acting to prevent more cases from reaching hospitals,” a senior health department official informed.

The officer, however, refused to comment on the exact reasons for the rise in the number of typhoid. “We will be able to arrive at a conclusion on the reason for the spread of this disease only after the investigation is completed,” he said.

Officials, however, indicated that it could be a case of infection though use of contaminated water by the children.

“The drinking water samples from all the three villages have been collected and the laboratory reports are expected within the next three days,” the officer said.

The health officials who visited the three villages when the first few cases emerged in Bavla village have reported that the villagers caused breaches in the Narmada water pipeline to draw drinking water, which might have led to typhoid.