Hepatitis A outbreak: Control measures activated in affected wards in Kalamassery

Hepatitis A outbreak: Control measures activated in affected wards in Kalamassery

The superchlorination of water sources, including wells in the wards that had reported a spike in Hepatitis A cases in Kalamassery, has begun as part of the control measures taken to check the outbreak of the disease.

The officials of the Health department and the municipality visited the households in wards that included Peringazha, HMT Estate, and Kurupra on Monday (December 23). The process will continue on Tuesday (December 24), according to the health wing of the civic body.

The superchlorination of wells is part of the remedial measures initiated at the time of an outbreak. The District Medical Office said that a team of health officials had visited the areas on Monday in connection with a series of measures taken following the spike in suspected and confirmed cases in the three wards.

A medical camp held on December 21 found that nearly 95 of the 135 residents, who attended the event had shown symptoms of the disease. Their blood samples have been sent for further analysis and the results are awaited. A vehicle announcement campaign was also carried out in the wards to create awareness among the residents to be careful while consuming drinking water.

They have been advised to drink only boiled water and avoid mixing boiled and normal water under any circumstances. They have been told to boil even chlorinated water before drinking. The Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers, who had visited the wards that reported an increase in cases, advised the residents to wash their hands with soap before handling food, after eating, and after using the toilet. They have also been told to avoid eating stale food or food left open.