While BBMP health officials denied such an outbreak, they held a four-day health camp in the rain-affected areas as a precautionary measure.
Doctors say there is a rise in acute gastroenteritis (GE) cases, typhoid, dysentery, diarrhoea and even vector-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria.
Dr Ravindra, consultant physician at Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain Hospital, said three to five cases of GE cases are being reported every day, while 20 GE cases were reported last week.
Dr Joseph Rajendran, consultant physician, St John’s Medical College and Hospital, confirmed an increase in GE cases. There is an increase in the number of dysentery, diarrhoea and typhoid cases as well, he said.
According to Dr Chowti, Chief of Medicine, Mallya Hospital, dengue cases on the rise. In the last two days, Bowring Hospital has admitted seven people with diarrhoea. Heavy rains lead to water-logging and water supply system getting breached, resulting in mixing of sewage water with drinking water. Hence, there is a possiblity of water getting contaminated, said Dr Joseph.
Meanwhile, BBMP chief health officer L T Gayathri said the number of GE cases is as usual. There is no outbreak of diseases due to rain, she added.
Chlorine in water
The BWSSB will increase the percentage of chlorine in water next week (it will be within limits prescribed by Central Public Health Environmental Engineering Organisation). Due to heavy rains in the catchment areas of Cauvery and Arkavathi rivers, there has been a slight increase in the turbidity levels of water supplied, says a BWSSB release.