Woman dies of cholera in Mathura colony

A 70-year-old woman died today of cholera taking the number of deaths in Kanshi Ram Colony here to four.
Officiating Chief Medical Officer Dr Sajjan Kumar said, "The woman, identified as Meera, had cholera attack late on Friday night. She was brought to the temporary hospital of the colony in the morning where she died after some time."
Two children died and 46 others hospitalised after consuming milk as a part of mid-day meal at a school in Kansi Ram colony here on Wednesday. Anganwadi Assistant Usha Devi, who was also taken ill after consuming the milk, died on Thursday.

District Magistrate Rajesh Kumar claimed that the situation is under control and said, "The death this morning would not have happened had the patient was brought to the hospital in time."
"As many as 89 persons have been discharged from various hospitals, while 24 are admitted to Swarn Jayanti Hospital, five are in a makeshift hospital of the colony, 12 are in the district hospital and 10 patients are still admitted in Multi-speciality Nayati Hospital," he said.
"The incubation period of cholera is one to five days. Its intensity will reduce with the passage of incubation period," said Dr K Ram who arrived here today along with Dr P K Singh as experts from Lucknow.

On the deaths of three persons, allegedly due to consuming contaminated milk, Agra Divisional Commissioner Pradeep Bhatnagar claimed, "Akshay Patra, which supplied the mid-day meal, is a noted institution and has been supplying mid-day meal in 2,000 schools butno such report has been received so far."

"The milk was also supplied to other schools, but no complaint was received from there," he added.
Meanwhile a survey was conducted to identify the patients in Aurangabad, Sarai Azmabad and Baad villages after spread of cholera was reported there, the officiating CMO said, adding "Leaflets were distributed in these villages and precautionary medication was also provided."

Since only 29 children had consumed milk on Wednesday as part of mid-day meal and a majority are of different age groups, it has been established that cholera has spread in the area, the District Magistrate said yesterday.
"On the basis of stool test it has been established that most of the patients are suffering from cholera which virtually has taken an epidemic form," he had said.