Gastroenteritis Claims Two Lives In Mumbai, More People Affected

Gastroenteritis has claimed the lives of two children in Mumbai and many more with the symptoms of the disease are being treated at various hospitals

Gastroenteritis has claimed the lives of two children in Mumbai and many more with the symptoms of the disease are being treated at various hospitals. Health authorities said that more doctors has been pressed into service to treat those 90-odd people who are undergoing treatment.

Around 50 people were admitted to hospitals Wednesday, particularly in south Mumbai, where the infection was detected. "At the last count, 90 people were admitted to hospitals and five in ICUs," said state health secretary A.M. Khan.

"The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has already taken effective steps to detect the cause and restrict the spread of the disease," Khan told IANS.

The exact cause of the sudden outbreak is still not known. The government assured people that there was no need to panic.

Meanwhile, water supply in the affected areas has been cut off as a precaution and four water tankers put into service.

"Most of the times water is the main culprit when it comes to gastroenteritis. However, we are not ruling out other possibilities," director general of health services T.P. Doke said.

"We have pressed into service extra doctors and made available extra medicines. Samples of blood, urine, stools and water have been sent for testing and we are yet to ascertain the main cause of the outbreak," Doke said.

Most of the patients were admitted to major south Mumbai hospitals like J.J. Hospital, G.T Hospital, Kasturba Hospital and St. George Hospital, officials said.

People are being advised to take various precautions like washing their hands before eating, avoiding roadside food and, more importantly, eating only freshly cooked food and drinking boiled water.

-Edited IANS