A major health crisis is believed to have been averted in Keerampara panchayat in Ernakulam after seven children who were hospitalised following symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting got discharged on Sunday (September 7). The six remaining children, all below five years of age, are currently under treatment and are expected to be discharged on Monday (September 8), according to Health officials.
As many as 45 children had shown symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting in the past few days. Among them, 22 had to be admitted to the hospital. “The children first started falling sick on September 1. This came to our attention on September 3, and we carried out intense chlorination drives and awareness campaigns. Water and faecal samples have been sent for tests. We haven’t been able to ascertain the cause of the illness as we could not find any link between the cases. But the situation is under control now,” said a health official.
A majority of children who were affected were those below the age of five. “Even a breastfeeding infant was hospitalised. So, we couldn’t find a pattern among those who got the infection. According to health officials, it is a case of a viral infection. We will get more details once the lab reports are out,” said panchayat president Mr. Gopi Muttath. Massive cleaning drives were held. Chlorination of wells at houses in the panchayat was carried out.
“Prompt measures such as chlorination drives, awareness campaigns, and ORS packet distribution helped arrest the spread of the disease. This is the first time that the panchayat has come across such a health situation,” he added.