Times of India
23 April 2010
Hyderabad, India

The city is witnessing a surge in acute diarrhoeal disease (ADD) cases over the past two weeks with as many as 437 reported ADD cases in Hyderabad alone, according to epidemic wing of the directorate of health.

Medical records during the current year indicate a significant rise in ADD cases compared to that of of 2009 when 316 cases were reported as on date. These cases stand testimony to the unsafe drinking water supplied by the water board, health officials say.

All the 21 jaundice cases reported till date in the state are from Hyderabad. Of these, three cases were reported last week. Of the 11 cases of jaundice, which were reported last year, not a single case was from the rest of the districts. Besides, all the five cholera cases reported in the state are from Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts.

With the water quality remaining the main suspect, the city is reporting eight to 10 cases of acute diarrhoeal disease everyday. However, these figures are exclusive of the unaccounted number of patients approaching private hospitals in the city each day.

The city’s 457 ADD cases form a considerable chunk in the total 940 cases reported in the state.

Two persons died due to ADD in Chittoor district, which has registered 84 cases till date in the state health records.

Officials from the health department blame the contaminated drinking water which is being supplied to the residents. “The leakages in the sewage lines are to blame. Quite a good number of cases are due to food poisoning. People should avoid eating outside and boil the water before drinking,” said Dr G Ram Swaroop, director, DoH. Officials in the health department said that after the Bholakpur incident in 2009 that claimed 14 lives, they have been more vigilant this summer.