One dead, over 70 hospitalised after diarrhoea outbreak in Andhra Pradesh’s in Srikakulam, high alert in affected areas

Diarrhea outbreak in Srikakulam claims one life; 70 hospitalized as authorities investigate water contamination and implement safety measures.

A sudden diarrhea outbreak in Srikakulam town has raised significant health concerns in Andhra Pradesh. As of now, at least one has died and about 70 have been hospitalised. This has come immediately after the issue of five people dying and several being hospitalised, some critical, after consuming adulterated milk in Rajamahendravaram, in East Godavari district.

Speaking to The Hindu on Wednesday (February 25), the Srikakulam collector, Swapnil Dinkar Pundkar, said, “A total of 76 suspected cases have been identified. A total of 54 patients are undergoing treatment at various hospitals, including KIMS, and one death with comorbidities was also reported. The deceased is identified as M. Suresh, who is over 50 years old, from the Dammalaveedhi of the town. Two more patients are under the ventilator system. Their condition is being monitored.”

The Collector further said that everything has been brought under control, and the samples of the water have been sent to a laboratory in Visakhapatnam for testing.

“We have sent the water samples at the labs in Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam. We are yet to get the lab reports from Visakhapatnam. We have not found any contamination in the Srikakulam labs as per the preliminary information. The water was supplied from the overhead tanks in the areas and it was supplied by the municipality,” he said.

The Collector said that special medical camps have been set up, and the government has committed to bear the medical expenses of those being treated in the private hospitals. The outbreak is concentrated in Kaki Veedhi, Dammala Veedhi, Gudi Veedhi, Kandra Veedhi, and Manguvari Thota.

According to local sources, suspect water contamination was caused by the recent road expansion work that is believed to have damaged municipal pipelines, allowing drainage water to seep into the drinking water supply lines.