PCMC shuts down contaminated water pipe that sparked cholera outbreak; 133 patients with identified symptoms

PCMC has identified and closed the contaminated drinking water pipeline which led to the cholera outbreak in Dhawade Wasti, Bhosari.

June 20, 2024

Pune- The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has identified and closed the contaminated drinking water pipeline that led to the cholera outbreak in Dhawade Wasti area of ​​Bhosari. The PCMC reported its first case of cholera infection in a 19-year-old youth on June 8 and so far ten patients have been diagnosed with the waterborne disease. Of these 10 cholera patients, six are admitted to Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital (YCMH) and four patients are receiving treatment at New Bhosari Hospital.

According to Dr. Laxman Gophane, PCMC health officer, the condition of the ten cholera patients is considered stable and they are under observation. Joint monitoring was carried out by the PCMC Health Department and the Water Supply Department in the entire area to identify the source. The contaminated water pipe discovered during the investigation was immediately shut down to prevent the spread of the disease. Additionally, during its surveillance, authorities identified more than 133 patients with symptoms of cholera.

Soon after the outbreak began, a field hospital was set up in Dhawade Wasti and health teams began conducting door-to-door surveys to identify patients. The PCMC health team visited more than 14,000 houses and examined more than 39,000 people living in the area. As mentioned by PCMC Deputy Health Officer Dr Abhaychandra Dadewar, the patients were provided sufficient medical care on the basis of OPD and were also called for follow-up. Around 20 of these 133 patients with severe symptoms were admitted to YCMH, New Bhosari and Talera Hospital.

Chief Engineer and Head of PCMC Water Supply Department Shrikant Savne said all water pipes in the area had been covered and a series of water samples had been sent to the laboratory. The test results have not yet arrived.