10 confirmed jaundice cases in Rama village

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, September 16

With the Health Department collecting 20 samples from Rama village on Monday, the number of suspected jaundice cases have risen to 33, from 13 earlier. At Harraipur village, confirmed jaundice cases have reached 107 while suspected cases are around 430.

According to Health Department officials, a total of 20 blood samples were collected by department teams on Monday. A total of 344 houses were surveyed and water samples from different houses and waterworks were also collected by these teams. District Surveillance Officer Dr Umesh Gupta said: “The waterworks in Rama village supply water to four places. So, we will start our surveys in other villages as well. The reason of the outbreak is water contamination. We have conducted a meeting with officials of Water and Sanitation Department and are working in coordination to identify the reason behind water contamination. We have even started creating awareness and distributed chlorine and ORS.”

Meanwhile, Civil Surgeon Dr Amrik Singh Sandhu reached the village to take stock of the situation. A team led by Dr Sandhu checked leakage points and interacted with shopkeepers and residents of the village. The team also visited waterworks of Wand and Sanitation Department and directed officials concerned to ensure supply of clean potable water in the village. He also visited places, where medical camp for free examination, treatment and distribution of medicines were organised. Residents were asked to drink boiled or chlorinated water and ensure required standards of hygiene in the village.