More than 100 suspected cases of typhoid have been reported in Gujarat’s capital Gandhinagar over the past five days. As many as 104 patients, including children, are currently undergoing treatment at Gandhinagar Civil Hospital, officials said on Saturday.

Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi reviewed the situation at the Civil Hospital and met patients and their families. He said the administration has constituted a special team of 22 doctors to treat those admitted and has asked senior officials, including the deputy collector, to continuously assess the situation.

“At present, 104 suspected cases have been reported. The administration is continuously strengthening treatment and monitoring arrangements. Efforts are ongoing to provide better facilities to patients and their families,” Sanghavi said.

He added that arrangements for food and stay have been made for the families of admitted patients, with the collector and mayor personally overseeing the facilities at hospitals.

Typhoid cases have seen a sharp rise in the last three days, with officials noting a nearly 50 per cent increase in positive cases during this period. Most patients have been admitted to the paediatric ward.

Civil Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Mita Parikh said the condition of all admitted patients is stable. She informed that water samples collected from the affected areas showed that drinking water was not safe for consumption.

The health department of the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation has begun a door-to-door survey in the affected sectors to identify the source of the outbreak. Officials said residents have been advised to drink boiled water and consume home-cooked food. The civic body is also distributing chlorine tablets for cleaning water tanks.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, whose parliamentary constituency includes Gandhinagar, spoke to the district collector over the phone three times during the day to review the situation and is expected to take another review in the evening, Sanghavi said.

Officials said investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the suspected typhoid outbreak and to ensure that all patients receive timely and adequate treatment.

Source: India Today