Panic as 138 cases reported | 15 hospitalisedDiarrhoea outbreak in Peermuchalla?

Tribune News Service

Zirakpur, September 12

Fifteen patients were hospitalised and 138 cases of patients with diarrhoea-like symptoms reported from the Peermuchalla area of Zirakpur today, the health authorities said.

Several patients are reported to have been admitted to the Sector 6 hospital in Panchkula. Most of the cases reported are of migrant labourers residing in a locality near a sawmill. There was a beeline of patients and attendants and a panic-like situation in the Dhakoli hospital, eyewitnesses said.

Water contamination is suspected to be the cause of large-scale diarrhoea-like symptoms among patients. The water supply to the area has been stopped after the Health Department raised the alarm.

“The department is conducting a survey to ascertain the number of patients with diarrhoea-like symptoms in the area. Blood samples and stool samples are being taken to ascertain the cause. Water samples from the affected areas will be taken tomorrow to confirm the nature of contamination,” said Dr Pommy Chatrath, in-charge, Dhakoli hospital.

Dera Bassi SDM Kuldeep Bawa said, “We have stationed water tankers in the area. Most of the cases reported

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