Cholera, which has influenced people of Bharuch and its surrounding regions, has become a matter of worry among health authorities.

According to district authorities, 5 persons were tested positive for gastroenteritis and one for cholera on Saturday evening.

While confirming that there was an outbreak of the water-borne disease, Mr. Prakash Parikh, the municipal commissioner of Bharuch city, stated that around 65 people have fallen ill and are going through examinations for cholera and other water-borne ailments.

Mr. Prakash said, “The first cases were reported from Ekta Nagar Society located in the heart of the city. We organised a camp where a 70-year-old person was detected with cholera. Later, five confirmed cases of gastroenteritis were reported from the same locality.”

The victims reported the following symptoms including dehydration, diarrhoea and high fever.

The patients were getting treatment at private as well as government hospitals.

Meanwhile, the civic body, on Saturday, sealed an ice-cream factory, which was making products in damaging conditions, and also selling them past their expiration date in Bharuch city.

“We are not taking any chances as these are water-borne diseases,” said Mr. Parikh.

Aarti Kanwar, Bharuch District Collector, stated that the city and the surrounding areas have been announced hit even though only one case of cholera and five cases of gastroenteritis have been tested positive in the region.

“There are very high chances that it might affect other areas of the city too. The municipality has taken measures. Villages have already been alerted,” she said.

In addition to Bharuch, an alert has been sounded in nine other villages near Bharuch city, including Umraj, Jhadeshwar, Sherpura, Nandelav, Bholav, Maktampur, Kanthariya, Dehgam and Kukarwada.