Sunday, March 27 2005 11:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Hyderabad: A total of 167 cases of jaundice have been reported in Hyderabad in the last one month, prompting Andhra Pradesh CM Y S Rajasekhar Reddy to direct officials to initiate measures on war footing to check the spread of the disease.

As the number of patients being admitted to various hospitals with jaundice symptoms went up steadily, Reddy held a high-level meeting yesterday (Mar 26, 2005) to review the situation, official sources said.

He asked officials to urgently put in place an action plan to tackle the situation, they said.

Reddy directed the departments of medical and health, Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board and municipal administration to depute teams to areas where cases of jaundice had been reported and submit status reports by today (Mar 27, 2005).

Of the total 167 affected persons, 120 were still undergoing treatment, while others have been discharged, superintendent of Government-run Fever Hospital, Dr Sudharani said.

Consumption of contaminated water could be the main cause of infection, she said.

Blood samples of 80 patients were sent for chemical and bacteriological tests and the report is expected within a day or two, official sources said.

Reddy also instructed officials to take steps to immediately replace old and damaged pipelines to prevent contamination of drinking water, sources said.

Pulling up officials for not putting in place proper monitoring mechanism, he wanted them to hold field officers 'accountable' in case of contamination of drinking water due to damaged pipelines.

District medical and health officer S Satyavathi said 25 water samples from different localities in the Old City had been sent to the Institute of Preventive Medicine.

Meanwhile, managing director of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, B P Acharya, said that the Board could not be held 'responsible' for spread of the disease as there was a possibility that it might have spread through other routes, like infected food or beverages sold by hawkers.

The State Government has also directed health and water departments to launch a joint action plan to control and prevent the spread of the disease, besides creating awareness among the people.