City sees 500 typhoid cases in two weeks, docs say it's 'unusual'

Bengaluru is seeing cases of typhoid following the downpour earlier this month.

At least 200 cases of typhoid have been reported from the city in the last week, while the week before witnessed around 300 cases, BBMP data shows. The total number of cases of typhoid from January to August is 1,368.

“We are not witnessing any outbreak of typhoid. But we are getting a few cases, which is more than usual,” said Dr Lokesh M N, chief health officer, BBMP.

He said people had been cautious, but at least until the monsoon gets over, they should be careful about what they eat. 

Doctors also said they had been seeing people coming with diseases such as diarrhoea and dysentery. “I see around five cases of diarrhoea and typhoid a week. This is mostly because the water or food that they consume has mixed up with contaminated water,” said Dr Shilpa Singi, consultant, internal medicine, Narayana Multi-Speciality Hospital.

She said people should avoid food from outside, especially during the monsoon. The food should not be consumed without heating as there are chances that the bacteria in it may cause gastroenteritis.

Dr Pankaj Singhai, senior consultant, internal medicine, Manipal Hospitals, said the frequency of typhoid cases had increased since the rainy season began two months ago. “I see around four to five cases a week. There are both complicated and non-complicated cases of typhoid. We also see cases that are extremely severe where patients come in an unconscious state, whereby typhoid has already reached the brain,” he added.

Dr Lokesh said the cases are also because people carry the disease from other places and come to Bengaluru. He said children aged under five and senior citizens should be cautious.