THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : Days after the death of a youth with symptoms of cholera, his hostel mate tested positive for the highly contagious disease on Tuesday. Fifteen other inmates of the Sree Karunya Mission Charitable School Society hostel in Neyyattinkara, Thiruvananthapuram, have been hospitalised with symptoms of cholera.
“Cholera has been confirmed in the (10-year-old) student admitted at SAT hospital. The report has been handed over to the government. Other inmates of the hostel have been admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital and government hospitals at Parassala and Nemom with symptoms of cholera,” Thiruvananthapuram DMO Bindu Mohan said.
On July 4, hostel inmate Anu, hailing from Vithura, had a bout of vomiting and diarrhoea.
The school authorities first thought he was suffering from food poisoning. He was admitted to the Neyyattinkara General Hospital the same day. But he died the next day. The last death due to cholera in Kerala was reported in 2017. Samples of four students who exhibited its symptoms, but are yet to begin treatment, were sent for testing, health department sources said.
Those who went home before cholera was confirmed have been tracked. If they or their family members show any symptoms, their samples will be tested and treatment provided. There are 65 students in the hostel, and the school authorities have advised parents to take them home. The school has been closed for a week.
