Cholera outbreak in Mannar

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 October 1998, 14:25 GMT]
All the tea shops in Vidaththalthivu and Pallamadu divisions in Mannar have been closed following detection of Cholera in the area. Local health officers say five people have died of Cholera since the first case was detected in Vidaththalthivu on September 29.

A further 157 people have been admitted to the hospital with diarrhoea and laboratory tests carried out in Colombo have revealed 6 of them are infected with Cholera the officials said.

A doctor and medical health personnel from adjoining villages have gone to the affected areas with medicines.

The first batch of medicine was despatched a few days ago and another consignment is expected to be dispatched on October 15 officials said further.

They said they are waiting for security clearance from the Ministry of Defence.