Suspected water contamination leaves over 300 residents of Kochi flat complex sick

Water-borne disease outbreak in Kakkanad, Kerala apartment complex leaves nearly 300 residents sick, sparking health concerns.

A suspected water-borne disease outbreak has hit a major apartment complex with over 1,200 apartments at Kakkanad in Kochi, Kerala, leaving, by some accounts, nearly 300 residents, including children, sick.

The affected have sought treatment after developing symptoms associated with water-borne diseases such as vomiting, diarrhoea and fever, especially over the last four days.

Sources at a private hospital at Kakkanad confirmed that there has been a steady stream of patients from the apartment complex, DLF New Town Heights. A medical camp by another private hospital is also being planned in the apartment complex.

The Kerala Health department has collected water samples, the test report of which may take between 24 to 48 hours. “We are yet to reach any conclusion though the problem seems to be fairly scattered across the apartment complex. There are 15 towers in the apartment complex and hence a large number of water storage tankst, necessitating collection of that many samples. As of now, the problem seems to be severe in ‘Q’ Tower. We are also collecting random samples from individual apartments,” said Gopika Arun, Kakkanad medical officer.

Though a water safety notice listing out the do’s ad don’ts had been issued, the apartment association office-bearers have now sought to downplay the incident stating that while there has been water contamination, possibly e-coli infection, the issue has been blown out of proportion.

“We use multiple sources of water, including rainwater harvesting, borewell, Kerala Water Authority (KWA) supply, wells and water tankers. We have taken corrective measures and isolated the water sources and the Health department is also apprised of the matter. The situation is under control. As there are over 12,00 apartments, we cannot keep track of how many people had been to hospital these days and whether it was for this particular issue,” says Madhusoodhanan, the association president.

However, residents paint a fairly grim picture. Besides, there seems to be resentment among a section of the residents over the alleged suppression of the problem by the association as a test conducted as back as last month had pointed to the prevalence of e-coli.