Toddy shop suspected to have spread Hepatitis

KOCHI: The authorities on Monday ordered to close down a toddy shop assessing the toddy served from the shop to be the cause of the outbreak of Hepatitis A at Varappetty, near Kothamangalam, which claimed three lives on Sunday. On Monday, the Health Department authorities in association with Varappetty grama panchayat organised a public meeting to create awareness on the epidemic.With panic spreading the area, a diagnostic camp was organised at the grama panchayat office. “Those who consumed toddy from a particular shop were diagnosed with the disease. No woman was diagnosed with the disease,” Dr Haseena Mohammed, Additional DMO, Ernakulam said. “All the three persons except one had consumed toddy from the shop. Paulose who had not consumed toddy is a close friend of Sugunan. So, there are chances that disease could have spread to Paulose while sharing same glass or plates,” she said. “Following our request, the Excise Department has decided to ban sale of the toddy in the toddy shop at Varappetty for the time being,” she said. Aji Paul, 31, son of Paily of Melbhagam, Kottappady, Sugunan, 42, son of Parameswaran  Nair of Kothakunnel, Varappetty, and Paulose, 44, of Kalakudy, Inchoor, were those who died on Sunday while undergoing treatment for the diease. Last Thursday, Jayan, 31, Naduvallampattu, Kuttampara, near Kuttampuzha had died of the disease. According to the Health Department officials they have already taken measures to check the spread of the disease. “Chlorination of wells and waterbodies have already been completed. We have already decided to ban the sales of items like sip-ups,” Haseena Mohammed said.  The officials with the Varappetty Community Health Centre (CHC) said that those diagnosed with the disease are not using the common source of water. “All of them use water from wells on their premises. So, there is the least chance of water contamination in the area to be the reason for the outbreak,” an official with the Varappetty CMC said.