Over 500 Fall Ill from Contaminated Water in Udupi, Karnataka

In a concerning health incident, over 500 residents in Karnataka‘s Udupi district fell ill after consuming contaminated water from a local overhead tank. Health officials have confirmed the presence of Salmonella bacillary strains in the water supplied to two wards in Uppunda. Fortunately, none of the affected individuals are in serious condition.

Dr. IP Gadad, the District Health Officer of Udupi, reported that a health team was dispatched on September 30 to inspect villages relying on the same water source. “Waterborne pathogenic Salmonella bacillary strains were found in 56 cases,” he confirmed, highlighting the need for immediate action.

The health department has dismissed rumours of a cholera outbreak in the area. Dr. Nagaratna, the District Surveillance Officer, clarified that no cholera cases have been reported in Uppunda. Although Udupi district had previously confirmed 20 cholera cases, all patients have since recovered and been discharged from hospitals, with no new cases reported in the past week.

Dr. Gadad mentioned that three cases of diarrhoea were reported on September 29, which prompted health authorities to conduct inspections of over 375 homes. They were able to trace the infected cases and assured the public that the situation remains under control.

As the health crisis unfolded, frustration among local residents intensified. Many attributed the water contamination to the poor maintenance of the overhead tank. In response to the contamination, water supply from the Kasinadi tank has been halted, and villagers are demanding a comprehensive investigation and prompt measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

This incident underscores the importance of maintaining clean water sources and the need for vigilant health monitoring in communities. As health officials continue their investigations, the local authorities are expected to implement measures to ensure the safety of drinking water in the region.