Residents fall ill in Sagar taluk, officers rule out cholera breakout

Several residents, including children, in the villages of Sagar taluk fell ill in the last two days, and an elderly woman, complaining of abnormal bowel movements, died on Thursday (March 12), leaving locals worried.

In the last three to four days, many residents of Kargal, Jog, Linganmakki, Aralagodu, Henni, Iduvani, and other villages in the taluk have complained of uneasiness, vomiting, and diarrhoea. They were admitted to the primary health centre in Kargal, and some were referred to Sagar and Shivamogga. A 65-year-old woman who was initially treated in Kargal later died in Shivamogga.

The situation led to a suspected cholera breakout in the area. Senior officers of the Health Department rushed to the villages and appealed to the villagers to drink only boiled water.

K.S. Nataraj, District Health Officer of Shivamogga, told The Hindu on Friday (March 13) that the sample tests showed negative for cholera. “The elderly woman who died had other health conditions. The doctors who initially treated her referred her to Sagar Hospital. However, the family members delayed taking her to the hospital,” the officer said.

The officer said that recently, the villagers celebrated religious events. The cause of the infection could be the consumption of food items exposed to open air during the festivals. “There were four cases on the first day; the next day, there were seven or eight people with similar complaints. Many of them suffered from dehydration because of the current weather. The tests have ruled out cholera," he added.