Amid fears of a cholera outbreak in Bengaluru, Paying Guest (PG) Owners Association has issued guidelines to mitigate the spread of the disease within residential apartments across the city. A comprehensive set of directives will be issued following an emergency meeting in the coming week.
PGs have been advised to implement specific measures to prevent the transmission of cholera. These include regular sanitation of premises and kitchen facilities, installation of RO systems, provision of hot meals and prohibiting outside food, and ongoing monitoring of residents' health. Individuals exhibiting symptoms are urged to promptly report to the PG owner. Heightened emphasis is placed on routine cleaning of premises, particularly common areas.
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has also instructed all proprietors of hotels, restaurants, and cafes to offer complimentary hot drinking water to their patrons. Furthermore, private hospitals affiliated with the corporation, private laboratories, and government healthcare facilities are mandated to report all suspected cases into the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) database, as per governmental regulations.
To address concerns over the spread of infectious diseases during the summer season, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has also issued guidelines. Staff under the relevant departments have been directed to ensure that the chlorination level in water treatment plants and final distribution water meets regulatory standards. The health department staff are tasked with collecting samples from manholes and sewage water in areas where epidemics have been reported, addressing any water pipe leaks, and taking appropriate action.
The Karnataka Health Department had issued an alert following the cholera cases at Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute. Officials have confirmed that two students were among the 47 individuals hospitalised for symptoms including loose stools and dehydration. Precautionary measures have been mandated to prevent further transmission of the disease. Over the past two months, nine individuals in Bangalore have been confirmed to have cholera.