Suspected case of water borne disease : Many from Lilong admitted to RIMS
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 01 2016: In a major outbreak of a waterborne disease at Lilong Chinjao areas a large number of locals were today admitted at Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) .

22 persons were admitted to the hospital after they suffered vomiting and loose motion continuously in the last three days mostly women and children.

The locals have been using tube-well as their main source of potable water supply.

Other patients numbering 40 are reported to have been admitted to Lilong PHC, stated a source.

The ailing people admitted at RIMS

After inspecting the symptoms of patients admitted, Medical Superintendent of RIMS, Prof M Amuba stated that there is no reason to panic as patients admitted two hours back have improved considerably.

He stated that as a special arrangement vacant space of Eye Ward and ENT are being used for the patients who are currently undergoing treatment.

Further he said that there is no possibility of cholera and other epidemic diseases in Lilong area and urged people to calm down and not to panic.

Arrangements have been made to investigate whether there was any arsenic poisoning and determine the reason behind the outbreak.

RIMS has been treating the patients free of cost, he added.

Meanwhile, Education Minister who is also the spokesperson of the State Government M Okendro along with Agriculture Minister Abdul Nasir and MLA of Sagolband Assembly Constituency RK Imo visited the patients and took stock of the situation.

Later M Okendro commented that the State administration is keeping an eye on the development of the outbreak and will provide all necessary help to patients.

Experts will be consulted to investigate the reason of such an outbreak.

All expenditure for the patients admitted will be borne by the State administration, he added.

On the other hand, a patient stated that locals have been using tube-well for their source of potable water and it could be the reason for such outbreak on a large scale.

He added that earlier some ten years back such an incident occurred in the area.

The Directorate of Health Services has been providing all forms of support to affected villagers, a report stated.

A specialist physician has been put to service for 24 hours at the Lilong PHC and the same service has been activated for the hospital in Thoubal.

To determine the root cause of the outbreak samples have been collected for investigation and testing, added the source.