City of Anand and its surrounding areas in central Gujarat were today declared cholera-affected following the death of a boy, and the administration has been asked to take necessary steps to curb the spread of the water-borne disease.
Issuing a notification in this regard, District Collector, Rakesh Shankar asked health officials to take measures to check the spread of the disease and to promptly attend to patients' needs.
The decision came after District Chief Health Officer, R B Patel submitted a report to the collector, calling for urgent steps to stop cholera from spreading further.
After the death of a boy living near Ambika Chowk of Anand city two days back, we took blood samples of five patients of that area, including a woman admitted in a Karamsad hospital. When her report came positive, I gave my report to the collector," Patel said.
The notification will remain in force for one month, the collector said, adding, the affected region includes Anand city and villages located within its 10-km periphery.
"Our administration will take all necessary steps to curb the disease," said Shankar, who has appointed the city Mamlatdar (a revenue official) as the Cholera Control Officer to supervise preventive measures.
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that causes severe stomach aches, diarrhoea and vomiting, resulting in severe dehydration. The disease is commonly contracted by contaminated drinking water or consuming foods laced with cholera bacteria.
