TYPHOID CLAIMS FIRST VICTIM 

Apoorva (19), daughter of H.S. Ramanath, a trader and resident of Hunsur, is the victim. Apoorva was suffering from the symptoms of the epidemic for the last one week and was taking treatment at home but when the condition became serious with high fever, she was admitted to Vikram Hospital two days ago. She breathed her last on Thursday.

Apoorva was a B.Sc. graduate and was staying in her grand-mother's house in Saraswathipuram. A student of Information Technology at KSOU, Apoorva was attending tuition classes in city. The last rites were performed in Hunsur on Thursday.

The epidemic was detected on Feb. 13 itself when the Corporation Health Officials found out that the water pipe in Under Ground Drainage (UGD) route on Manandavadi Road was getting mixed up with the drainage water, from a pipe which runs parallel.

The Corporation had taken up a survey to locate places where water pipes and UGD lines pass side by side.

After the epidemic spread to other parts in the city, district Health officials collected the blood samples of patients and typhoid was confirmed.

The District Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr. Krishnaswamy had said that the water samples from the affected areas were tested for bacteriological contamination. It was confirmed that water was not fit for human consumption.

He regretted that even after sending daily reports of water contamination to the City Corporation, immediate steps have not been taken.