Bhopal: At least 415 combat teams have been constituted at district and development block level for prevention and treatment of water-borne diseases including diarrhea, gastroenteritis, plague etc. in the state. Health Department is keeping strict vigilance on marked problem-oriented villages and townships. This information was given today by the Health Department during daily review of contagious diseases. People were told to inform immediately about the spread of any water-borne diseases in their areas on landline no. 0755-4094192 and call centre no. 8989988712.
Public Health and Family Welfare Minister Rustum Singh told that the possibility of spread of water-borne diseases increases every year first due to shortage of water at the end of summer season and beginning of rainy season and then due to polluted water following rains. Sufficient quantity of bleaching powder, ORS, chlorine, chloroquine, paracetamol, metrodinazole etc., has been made available at the Arogya Kendra and Depot Holder in every village in the state. Efforts are being made to control spread of contagious diseases through sectors in charge, multi-purpose workers and ASHA. ASHA informs concerned development block medical officer promptly about occurrence of any case of disease in the village so that immediate steps can be taken to control it.
Singh has appealed to take the following precautionary steps to save people from polluted water-borne diseases. Always use clean clear water for consumption. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and clean water after using the toilet. Consume freshly cooked food and edible items. Always keep food and edible items covered so that it does not get contaminated with flies, dust etc. If water seems polluted, it should be boiled and filtered with a clean cloth. Put chlorine tablets in water and use it after one hour.
During the daily review of swine flu, dengue, chikungunia and other contagious diseases by the Health Department it was told that 95 samples of swine flu were sent between July 1 and August 8 out of which 91 reports have been received. Out of these reports 17 tested positive and 4 sample reports area awaited. At present 3 patients are undergoing treatment in government hospitals and 8 patients are in private hospitals. Similarly 42 dengue patients were found in 14 districts during comparable period. On August 8, 28 samples were sent to 4 laboratories out of which two were tested dengue-positive. During this period 14 suspected patients of chikungunia were found but their reports were negative. One swine flu patient has been reported dead in the state.