PUNJAB GOVERNMENT SWINGS INTO ACTION TO CONTAIN SPREAD OF HEPATITIS A AND E IN BATALA
The Punjab Government has taken strict measures to contain the outbreak of Hepatitis A and E in Batala, high end orders have been issued to the government machinery to increase the vigil to curb the spread of this disease. Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the Punjab Government said that a high level committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Mr. Vikas Pratap. The committee has visited the venue and prepared a comprehensive report which has been submitted to the department. The committee is comprised of Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board’s Chief Executing officer Mr. D.K Tiwari. The spokesperson said that as per the report received 41 patients have been diagnosed with Hepatitis A and E. The inspection of the infected areas till now includes the inspection of pipe lines and the samples collected from different places. The preliminary report raises the alarm regarding the situation. It also involves the unauthorised plastic water supply pipes that could lead to the leakage of water. Apart from this, the installation of private submersible pumps can be one of the reasons for spreading the disease. So, the inspection team is also checking the leakage of water and taking the samples of drinking water from those submersible pumps in 512 households. The spokesperson further said that the government is also supplying safe drinking water in the infected areas. Also, the District Mandi Officer is given directions to provide safe drinking water in affected and endangered areas within 24 hours through water tankers. Along with this, the Department of Health is distributing around 20000 chlorine tablets door to door as a safety measure. The Health Department also gave special directions pregnant ladies for following precautionary measures to avoid the disease. The spokesperson also told that, awareness is being generated to people through different modes of media for maintaining cleanliness and using clean utensils for boiling the water. The health department also gave the directions for giving complete care and rest to the patients. The blood samples of doubtful cases infected with disease are being taken, and the proper treatment facilities are being provided with quarantined ward to the infected patients. The stern directions were given to keep control of the situation, even in emergency. Further, the spokesperson also told that the Municipal council initiated the cleanliness campaigns and lime spray is being done. Apart from this, the samples of the street food are also collected as a control measure to the disease.
