India
Delhi reports 222 cholera cases in four months
By IANS
May 7, 2006 - 6:44:00 PM

Delhi has reported 222 cases of cholera in the last four months and authorities here blame it on the poor quality of drinking water.

"The capital has reported 222 cholera cases as against 92 in the corresponding period last year. But we are not triggering the warning bell as the situation is well under control," said N.K. Yadav, deputy municipal health officer of Delhi.

"Waterborne diseases may be common in summer, but the poor drinking water quality is a major reason for the number of cases. We are working in collaboration with the Delhi Jal Board to deal with the situation," Yadav told IANS.

He said that the situation is not as bad as 2004, when 459 cases of cholera were reported in the first four months.

Yadav said that ORS packets and chlorine tablets are being distributed to residents of unauthorised colonies and slum clusters through 1,800 booths in the capital.

As part of preventive measures, health authorities tested 1,670 water samples, of which 26 were found unfit. As many as 810,796 chlorine tablets and 4,896 ORS packets have also been distributed.

Talking about other diseases, Yadav said that only 16 cases of malaria have been reported as against 20 cases in the corresponding period of 2005 and 17 in 2004. There was no report of any dengue case.

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