Undiagnosed illness, Mumbai, waterborne, Hepatitis A suspected

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http://www.promedmail.org/pls/otn/f..._BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,81743

Archive Number 20100313.0817
Published Date 13-MAR-2010
Subject PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed illness, water-borne - India: (MC), RFI

UNDIAGNOSED ILLNESS, WATER-BORNE - INDIA: (MUMBAI), REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
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A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Fri 12 Mar 2010
Source: WaterTech online.com [edited]
<http://www.watertechonline.com/news.asp?N_ID=73642>


Jaundice outbreak blamed on contaminated water supply
-----------------------------------------------------
Residents here are continuing to fall ill and one has died after
contracting jaundice, which may be attributed to a contaminated
drinking water supply, a Diligent Media Corporation reported.

The 12 Mar 2010 story said around 400 families have been consuming
the water for one month and about 65 people have become ill with the
disease. A 58-year-old resident is one of the people with jaundice
and he lost his daughter-in-law to the disease on 23 Feb 2010.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) distributed chlorine to
purify the water. In January [2010], BMC collected a total of 2143
water samples, 10 of which tested positive for _E. coli_. Then, in
February [2010], 1987 water samples were taken and 36 samples tested
positive for _E. coli_.

Ganpat Tambe, secretary of the housing society, said in the story,
"Even we have cleaned our water tanks twice, but nothing seems to
solve the problem. In the morning when the water supply starts, we
get contaminated water in our homes every day."

A civic official, who wished to remain anonymous, said in the story,
"Normally complaints of water contamination or water-borne disease
increase during the monsoon season, but this is strange."

--
Communicated by:
HealthMap alerts via
ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>

[The recurrent detection of _E. coli_ organisms in the water supply
of a Mumbai suburb is an indication of fecal contamination in the
supply system. The occurrence of jaundice is suggestive of hepatitis
A virus infection, which has been frequently associated with
contaminated drinking water supplies. Water-borne outbreaks of
jaundice, though infrequent, are usually associated with
sewage-contaminated or inadequately treated water. Casual contact
among people does not spread hepatitis A virus.

The symptoms of hepatitis A virus infection range from mild to
severe, and can include fever, malaise, loss of appetite, diarrhoea,
nausea, abdominal discomfort, dark-colored urine and jaundice. Not
everyone who is infected will have all of the symptoms. Adults have
signs and symptoms of illness more often than children, and the
severity of disease and mortality increases in older age groups, with
jaundice occurring in more than 70 percent of cases. Most people
recover in several weeks -- or sometimes months -- without
complications. There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A, but
several effective hepatitis A virus vaccines are available. Further
information can be obtained at:
<http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs328/en/index.html>.

The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of India showing Mumbai on
the west coast of Maharashtra state is available at:
<http://healthmap.org/r/00BT>.

 

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Re: Undiagnosed illness, Mumbai, waterborne, Hepatitis A suspected

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_polluted-water-sparks-jaundice-fear-in-mumbai_1358181

Polluted water sparks jaundice fear in Mumbai
Pandurang Mhaske / DNAFriday, March 12, 2010 1:22 IST Email

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Mumbai: After having braved the water crisis, the 400-odd families of Panchshil housing society in Worli now face another water woe. The society has been getting contaminated water supply for the last one month, which was become a major health hazard for the residents. Many of the buildings occupants have contracted jaundice with some being admitted to hospitals for treatment, and one person even losing her life.



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Boonaiya Aitla, 58, a resident of Panchshil, who is suffering from jaundice, lost his daughter-in-law to the disease on February 23. “The problem has been there for the last one month. We have taken all kinds of precautions but still I have lost my daughter-in-law to jaundice,” said Boonaiya.

Another victim, Sandhya Kamble, 42, is worried for her 15-year-old
son — Avirath — who has been bed ridden because of the disease. Similar is the plight of Sanjay Putta, 25, and Suresh Armalla, who have contracted the disease due to consumption of the contaminated water their homes have been receiving.

About 60-65 residents of the society are suffering from jaundice. Ganpat Tambe, secretary of the housing society, has also put up a sign board on the society’s gate asking all the residents to take the necessary precautions.

The society has even lodged a complaint with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) after which the civic body’s medical department team visited the society. However, even after the BMC team distributed chlorine to purify the water, the problem has not ended for the residents. “Even we have cleaned our water tanks twice, but nothing seems to solve the problem. In the morning when the water supply starts, we get contaminated water in our homes every day,” said Tambe.

Even a civic official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed surprise over the happenings in the society. “Normally complaints of water contamination or water borne disease increase during the monsoon season (June and July), but this is strange. This society in Worli is facing water contamination problem at the beginning of the summer season,” the official said.

Local corporator Ashish Chemburkar has done his bit to solve the problem but to no avail. “I organised a health check up camp and we even distributed medicines to the residents, but the disease is not subsiding,” said Chemburkar.

According to sources in the civic body, the BMC has collected 2,143 water samples from across the city in January this year. Of these, 10 samples have the presence of the dreaded E coli bacteria. The BMC repeated the exercise again in February and collected 1,987 water samples, and again found 36 samples that had presence of the same bacteria.

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Undiagnosed illness, Mumbai, waterborne, Hepatitis A suspected

Diseases strike Mumbai as mercury rises
Deepa Suryanarayan / DNATuesday, March 16, 2010 2:03 IST

Mumbai: The summer arrived in the city just over a week ago, but the heat is already becoming unbearable. According to doctors, people need to be very careful as cases of cough-cold and the seasonal flu are likely to shoot up along with the temperature. Many people may be attacked by more serious diseases, such as dehydration, gastroenteritis and jaundice.

Even the meteorological department has warned people. ?If you already find March unbearably hot, what will you do in May?? asked Dr RV Sharma, deputy director general, Regional Meteorological Centre, Colaba.

On Monday, the maximum daytime temperature recorded at Colaba was 32?C, while the minimum was 23?C. At Santa Cruz, the maximum temperature was 33?C, while minimum was 22?C. ?While it is difficult to predict day-to-day temperatures, March-end and mid-April will be definitely very hot,? warned Sharma.

Doctors, however, are already urging people to spend minimum time under the sun and to use sun-protection when they venture out.

?A lot of people feel under the weather when the season changes,? said Dr SN Acharya, a Kurla-based general practitioner. ?I?ve already begun seeing patients, especially children, complaining of dehydration.?

Mulund-based general practitioner Dr Ashok Rane said that viral fever was already on the rise due to the sudden climatic changes. ?Climate changes often trigger off viral infections,? he said.

?Mumbai?s humid conditions help the viruses thrive all through the year.?

Another common problem in summer is a heat rash or prickly heat. ?The problem is particularly acute among babies and children,? said paediatrician Dr S Venkat.

Dr Harsha Megde, a dermatologist, suggests that people should avoid direct sunlight. ?Stay out of the sun if your shadow is shorter than you are, ie between 10am to 2pm. Always wear a cap or hat. Use sunscreen or sunblock (minimum SPF 15),? she said
?People should avoid eating food from outside and also dress according to the climate,? added Dr Nilesh Mehta, a physician.
http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_diseases-strike-mumbai-as-mercury-rises_1359560