Kolkata: Over 400 persons have been afflicted by gastroenteritis that broke out in Barasat area of North 24-Parganas in West Bengal as the state Health Department embarked on preventive measures on war footing to prevent further spread of the disease.

Officials said a woman died and over 400 were affected in Barasat, Nabapally and adjoining areas of the district since Sunday.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Surya Kanta Mishra and his deputy Pratyush Mukherjee on September 24, reviewed the situation at a high level meeting.

Deputy inspector general (DIG, headquarters) N C Ghosh said a large number of people were affected and efforts were on by Health department to bring the situation under control.

Over 100 persons were admitted to Barasat hospital, after drinking water, in the worst affected wards of 26, 27 and 29, they said.

A large number of patients, whose condition were deteriorating, were being shifted to state run Infectious Diseases (ID) hospital in Kolkata for treatment.

"We are admitting patients referred to us by Barasat hospital since early morning," ID hospital officials said.

Reports indicated that drinking water sources in the area had been contaminated due to a faulty sewage system causing the outbreak.

Health department has already sent a team of experts and epidemiologists to the affected areas. They will also collect samples of water to determine the exact cause of the outbreak.

PTI