Around 50 wedding guests diagnosed with hepatitis in Kerala, family receives notice

The Malappuram district health department has issued a show-cause notice to a family, which conducted a wedding reception with 50 odd guests who attended and were later diagnosed with Hepatitis A.

The reception was conducted by K Basheer of Vallikunnu for his daughter’s wedding in early November. Reports suggest that Basheer allegedly used ice blocks which were meant for commercial purposes, despite the warning from health officials to serve soft drinks at functions.

“Three weeks into the reception, around 100 guests have been hospitalised. Of them, 48 were diagnosed with Hepatitis A. In the recent days, some more people who attended the marriage reception have turned up at hospitals,” Malappuram District Medical Officer Ummer Farooque told The Indian Express.

According to the reports, the ice factory where the ice blocks  were brought had a warning board that the blocks were not meant for consumption as it was made of contaminated water.

“The warning was given against the backdrop of several Hepatitis A cases in the past and had been related to the use of such ice for human consumption. The ice factory had clearly stated that the product which was not meant for human consumption. Despite such a clear warning, the family used the ice for preparing soft drinks," Farooque added.