A sudden diarrhea outbreak in Hamirpur district has affected 242 residents, with 32 new cases reported, officials confirmed on Wednesday. The disease has spread to 12 villages across five-gram panchayats: Lambloo, Bafrin, Chamned, Gasota, and Pandher, impacting a population of around 4,550 people.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. R. K. Agnihotri stated that the health department had detected the new cases by Tuesday night. While 103 patients have been discharged after treatment, 14 remain hospitalized, and 125 are undergoing home treatment. Dr. Agnihotri emphasized the importance of drinking boiled water to prevent further spread and mentioned that health department teams are actively visiting the affected villages to provide necessary care and monitor the situation.
In response to the outbreak, six water samples were collected and sent to Hamirpur Medical College for analysis. The authorities are investigating the water quality as a potential source of the outbreak. Dr. Agnihotri advised residents to be cautious and adhere to the health guidelines issued by the department.
This is not the first time Hamirpur has faced such an issue. In March, a similar outbreak affected over 400 people, taking about ten days for the administration to control the situation. Additionally, in January 2023, about 1,000 people in the Rangas area of Nadaun, the assembly constituency of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, contracted diarrhoea. The outbreak resurfaced in June, affecting 10 panchayats near Hamirpur town.
The health department's swift action in collecting water samples and advising residents to drink boiled water is aimed at containing the spread of the disease. Residents in the affected villages are urged to follow these guidelines to avoid further contamination and ensure their safety.
The repeated outbreaks in the region have raised concerns among the local population. With the health department closely monitoring the situation, efforts are being made to identify the root cause and prevent future occurrences.
(Inputs from various sources)
(Rehash/Susmita Bhandary/MSM)
