101 hospitalised with gastro symptoms

A total of 101 patients suffering from gastroenteritis have been admitted to different hospitals in the city, while the death toll remained at two, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation officials said on Thursday.

In the Gokuldas Tejpal Hospital in south Mumbai, 88 patients are undergoing treatment while five are in intensive care unit, the hospital sources said, adding that most of the patients are residents of Mata Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar and Saboo Siddik Nagar chawls near Crawford Market.

According to sources, another three patients have been admitted to the Kasturba Gandhi Hospital in central Mumbai and 10 in St George Hospital and five in J J hospital in south Mumbai. The condition of all the patients is stable.

Two children died due to gastroenteritis on Wednesday while the first case was reported on March 13. All patients complained of diarrhoea and vomiting, which are common gastro symptoms, they said.

BMC health officials ruled out the possibility of food poisoning and said the possible cause of gastro outbreak could be contaminated water supply. However, Water Department sources had claimed that water samples from BMC supply lines have tested normal. As a precautionary measure, BMC has stopped water supply to the areas where outbreak has been reported and water tankers were being provided to those localities.