Disease outbreak under control: Health Dir
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 02 2016: The outbreak of an unknown water borne disease which was reported from Lilong Chingjao and Ushoipokpi areas of Lilong Assembly Constituency, Thoubal district in the last couple of days has been brought under control, claimed Health Director Dr Ibomcha.

Dr Ibomcha informed that even as the Health Department opened a health camp at Lilong in the wake of the outbreak, only one individual came to the camp today.

As such, the camp would be closed tomorrow.

Nonetheless, laboratory tests are being conducted to ascertain what caused or sparked outbreak of the unknown disease.

Water used in those places from where the outbreak was reported is drawn through hand-pumps and it is clear that the disease is a water borne disease.

It is being examined whether the January 4 earthquake had any connection with the disease outbreak, he said.

Most of the hand-pumps are located in swampy areas where ducks and cattle feed.

As such, there is a possibility of germs percolating into the hand-pump water.

Samples collected by Health Department are being tested at the Integrated Disease Surveillance laboratory of JNIMS and the results are expected tomorrow.

Another likely reason for the disease outbreak is possible presence of arsenic in the water consumed by people of the affected areas.

PHED collected water samples yesterday and whether arsenic is present or not would be known soon, Dr Ibomcha said.

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