Cholera – India (Kerala ex Karnataka)
Date: Tue 30 Apr 2013
Source: The New Indian Express [edited]
http://newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/Cholera-came-to-state-from-Karnataka/2013/04/30/article1568044.ece
The district health officials have confirmed that the recent cholera epidemic in Wayanad [District in north east Kerala] was spread through tribal migrant laborers working in the ginger plantations in the southern districts of Karnataka.
The cholera outbreak was detected in most of those districts 2 months ago and the health officials had warned their Kerala counterparts about the high probability of the communicable disease spreading in the northern districts in Kerala, including Wayanad.
Also, a large number of migrant laborers from Karnataka are employed in several sectors across the district. There was a high chance of the spread of such diseases in tribal colonies due to poor environmental hygiene, lack of access to potable water and risk-posing lifestyles of the tribal population, District Medical Officer A Sameera told Express.
Health workers are directed to be alert as patients that have recovered still carry the bacterium for up to 2 weeks. In 2013, the 1st cholera death in the district was reported in January when a tribal laborer from Noolpuzha in Sulthan Bathery taluk died of diarrheal illness. Currently, 18 persons with symptoms of cholera are undergoing treatment at various hospitals in the district and at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.
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Comment: Oral Vaccine for Cholera is easily available in India, and hence I would suggest that all travelers who have neglected to take the same before traveling to our country, consider taking it when they land here.
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