Jaundice spreads its tentacles

Strap: 6 new cases in Harraipur, 17 in Rama village

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, September 17

Contrary to the claims of the Health Department that the situation in Harraipur has turned home, cases of jaundice continue to surface, even after over two weeks since the outbreak hit the village. As many six new confirmed cases of jaundice and 25 suspected cases have been detected in the village.

In Rama village, according to the department record, 17 new confirmed cases and around 59 suspected cases of jaundice have surfaced, thereby putting the total count of confirmed cases at 27. Similarly, total number of confirmed jaundice cases in Harraipur has reached 113 and suspected cases have reached 455.

The Deputy Commissioner and the Civil Surgeon, along with health officials, visited the outbreak-hit village and conducted a meeting with Water and Sanitation Department officials.

Health Department officials said they had identified water leakage points and instructed the Water and Sanitation Department to plug these. Department officials also claimed that the situation has been brought under control now. They also claimed to have covered 541 houses during the survey.

Villagers met officials of the district administration and shared details regarding the poor state of affairs in the village. They said the actual number of patients was quite high as many patients had started visiting private medical laboratory and hospitals for treatment.