CHOLERA REPORTED FROM KOTTAYAM DISTRICT..........

Two cases of Cholera has been reported from the district. One case at Ettumanoor and One case at Athirampuzha. Epidemic alert and epidemic prediction has been already given to all institutions our District Medical Officer; See this as a warning signal for us and take all measures to prevent occurrence of such cases in our area.Be vigilant and plan measures to screen all diarrhoea cases in your area .

                     All hotels and food handling institutions should be inspected for the availability of Safe drinking water,100% medical fitness of the food handlers confirmed by valid health cards duly certified by competent authorities.However it should be seen that the food safety are being followed strictly.IEC activities including food hygiene, water hygiene,  personal hygiene,waste management and ORT to prevent occurrence of such cases in our area    Daily  Superchlorination should be done in the areas of all suspected cases and weekly in the field of all diarrhoea cases. Ensure weekly chlorination in all other areas. ASHAs should be educated as to how to do chlorination properly. Adequate bleaching powder should be procured. Ensure the availability of ORS in all areas. ORS depots should be functional. Give alerts to Panchayats also. Investigate and Report any suspicious case. Let us shoot it down.

i. Update the list of drinking water sources(WHSC vise) and should be kept with WHSC conveeners

ii. Assure effective weekly chlorination ;identify the water     sources to be   super chlorinated.

iii. Daily report and linelist all diarrhoeal diseases cases(OP,IP and FIELD cases)

iv. Assure adequate stock of ORS,Bleaching powder and Chlorine tablets

vi. Put the flood area under strict surveillance;initiate all possible measures to assure house to house surveillance.
vii. D&o inspection should be strengthened to assure personal hygiene practices,environmental hygiene practices and food hygiene practices.The water sources of such institutions should be confirmed safe in all means.

  The primary symptoms of cholera are profuse, painless diarrhea and vomiting of clear fluid.These symptoms usually start suddenly, half a day to five days after ingestion of the bacteria.The diarrhea is frequently described as "rice water" in nature and may have a fishy odor.An untreated person with cholera may produce 10 to 20 litres (3 to 5 US gal) of diarrhea a day with fatal results. For every symptomatic person, 3 to 100 people get the infection but remain asymptomatic.Cholera has been nicknamed the "blue death" due to a patient's skin turning a bluish-gray hue from extreme loss of fluids.

Cholera is an acute enteric infection caused by the ingestion of bacterium Vibrio cholerae present in faecally contaminated water or food. Primarily linked to insufficient access to safe water and proper sanitation.Cholera is characterized in its most severe form by a sudden onset of acute watery diarrhoea that can lead to death by severe dehydration. The extremely short incubation period - two hours to five days - enhances the potentially explosive pattern of outbreaks, as the number of cases can rise very quickly. About 75% of people infected with cholera do not develop any symptoms. However, the pathogens stay in their faeces for 7 to 14 days and are shed back into the environment, possibly infecting other individuals. Cholera is an extremely virulent disease that affects both children and adults. Unlike other diarrhoeal diseases, it can kill healthy adults within hours.