Cases of waterborne diseases rise as mercury soars in Ahmedabad

With the mercury soaring, the number of cases related to waterborne diseases has plunged in Ahmedabad.

The health bulletin of city issued by the health department of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) revealed on Monday that 924 people were admitted to different hospitals with waterborne diseases between March 1 and 24.

A usual spike in the waterborne cases has been observed during the summer. 991 waterborne cases were reported in March 2016. The number may cross last year's record because, on an average, the city has daily reported around 38 cases. Giving the reasons behind the spike, in-charge medical officer of health, Dr Bhavin Solanki, said, "Most of the cases have been reported from the slum pockets of Gomtipur, Saraspur, Rakhial where the water and drainage pipeline network are adjutant."

"We have also asked them to flow water for initial five minutes or don't use first few buckets of water for intake purpose," the doctor added.

However, not a single case of cholera has been reported in March 2017's nine cases. Out of a total of 924 cases, 560 cases are of gastroenteritis, 142 of typhoid and 222 cases are of jaundice have been reported.