The first official cholera case of the year was reported in Vadodara on Thursday, a controversy has erupted over the actual number of cases. The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has faced scrutiny from opposition parties since Tuesday regarding the accuracy of medical reports.
Laboratory tests and diagnoses for approximately 20 people in the city revealed cholera symptoms. It is suspected that these hospitals and laboratories had also informed the civic body regarding the cases that had come to light till Tuesday.
VMC officials, however, clarified that the tests conducted until Wednesday were not confirmatory. “The tests were either darting mobility tests or antigen tests, which are not considered definitive for diagnosing cholera,” explained Dr Devesh Patel, VMC’s medical officer (health).
Patel said that suspected cholera cases require a culture test to confirm the disease, a process that takes time, leading to delayed confirmations. The case reported on Thursday was confirmed by a culture test.
The case involved a 37-year-old woman from the Waghodia Road area. VMC teams are now collecting water samples from the area to check for contamination and take necessary corrective action. Since Wednesday, surveillance has intensified in areas with suspected cholera cases.
Meanwhile, opposition members accused the civic body of downplaying the issue by focusing on technicalities. “I personally accompanied cholera patients from hospitals to ensure VMC acknowledges the situation,” stated Wasim Sheikh, a Congress member.
Sheikh highlighted serious concerns over water contamination in some city areas, where drinking water is reportedly mixing with sewage water.