Diarrhoea Outbreak: Hamirpur reports 34 new cases in 24 hours

Hamirpur: Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur district witnessed a concerning surge in diarrhoea cases, with 34 new cases reported within 24 hours across 10 villages, bringing the total affected individuals to 286, officials said on Friday.

Chief Medical Officer Dr R K Agnihotri affirmed that these cases were detected until Thursday night. Among the total cases, 14 patients are currently hospitalized, while 193 have been discharged. The remaining individuals are undergoing treatment at their residences.

According to a PTI report, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has demanded detailed reports about the outbreak and instructed the health department to ensure ample medical supplies and facilities. Additionally, the Jal Shakti Vibhag has been ordered to chlorinate water sources and ensure the provision of clean water to curb the disease's spread.

Previously, similar outbreaks in Hamirpur affected over 400 people in March and around 1,000 in Nadaun in January, further resurfacing in June.

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that cautioning that there is an increased risk of contracting water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea, dysentery and cholera in the rainy season, the Delhi government had issued an advisory mentioning dos and don'ts. The city health department's advisory was published in several leading dailies. The advisory mentions the dos and don't that need to be followed in view of the monsoon season.

Water-borne diseases spread due to consumption of contaminated water, ice or food. The advisory has asked people to eat home-cooked fresh food, maintain good personal hygiene, use ORS solutions to prevent dehydration and visit a health facility in case of vomiting, jaundice or fever.