Over 160 cases of Hepatitis E in Shimla since mid-January
By IANSThursday, February 18, 2010
SHIMLA - More than 160 people in the Himachal Pradesh state capital have tested positive for Hepatitis E — a liver problem caused by the consumption of water contaminated by sewerage — since the outbreak of the disease in mid-January, officials said Thursday.
“Patients suffering from jaundice (Hepatitis E) are being reported at various government and private hospitals of Shimla. Twelve patients were admitted to various hospitals yesterday (Wednesday). Till date, 161 patients have been reported,” Vinod Mehta, the surveillance officer of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, told IANS Thursday.
The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in New Delhi has already confirmed the prevalence of Hepatitis E mainly from Khalini, Panthaghati, Vikas Nagar and Kasumpti areas of Shimla.
“Since the incubation period of the water-borne disease is up to 90 days, the people who acquired the disease when there was problem of water contamination in January would continue to report till March-end,” he said.
“Now, there is no problem of water contamination. The health department and the municipal corporation are regularly monitoring the water samples,” he added.
An official of the Shimla Municipal Corporation said the source of water contamination was located soon after the outbreak of the disease and the problem has been rectified.
“We are regularly conducting random water sampling from localities affected by jaundice. We are also educating people to take preventive measures against the disease like consuming boiled water,” said Municipal Health Officer Sonam Negi.
Locals, however, claim that the state government is yet to realize the gravity of the problem and provide the residents safe potable water.
“The water supplied from the Ashwani Khud drinking water scheme (around 25 km from Shimla) is not fit for consumption as there is no proper chlorination and filtration of water,” Vikas Nagar resident Bhim Singh Thakur said.
In 2007 too, the disease was reported in these localities and more than 1,000 cases of jaundice were reported at that time.
