Civic body awaits test results of 5 suspected cholera patients

The result of the culture tests for the five patients suspected to be suffering from cholera and admitted at Kasturba Hospital, Chinchpokli, are expected on Thursday.

The result of the culture tests for the five patients suspected to be suffering from cholera and admitted at Kasturba Hospital, Chinchpokli, are expected on Thursday.

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The culture test is done to confirm cholera.

“We have sent their stool samples for culture test. The results are due on Thursday. Till we get the results we cannot confirm whether it’s cholera,” said Dr Daksha Shah, head of epidemiology cell, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

The five patients, one adult and four children, were sent from Bandra’s Bhabha Hospital to Kasturba last week on the suspicion of cholera. Four of the patients have been discharged, said Shah.

“They all have symptoms of gastroenteritis and even if they tested positive for cholera they will be all mild cholera cases,” Shah added.

The city has also witnessed a rise in diarrhoea and gastroenteritis cases in certain pockets. Around 50 to 60 gastroenteritis cases have been reported in Bhabha Hospital in the last two weeks.

To address the rising cases, the BMC has started conducting medical camps in areas such as Behrampada and Bharatnagar in Bandra. Fifty water samples taken from these areas have been sent for testing to municipal analyst, Shah added.

In the past one week, KEM Hospital has treated seven to eight cases of diarrhoea. However, no cholera cases were reported.

“Only when the stool samples for the Hanging Drop test are positive, we send them to Kasturba. In the past one week we have not sent any,” said Dr AR Pazare, head of medicine department, KEM Hospital.

“There were two diarrhoea cases in the hospital on Wednesday and this is no matter of concern. Let us see how the week goes by,” said Dr Nivedita Moulick, head of medicine department, Sion Hospital.