Cholera scare at Bengaluru medical college. Two students test positive, four in ICU

Two medical students from Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI), currently undergoing treatment at Victoria Hospital, have tested positive for cholera, a BMCRI student representative speaking to TOI. The culture test revealed the Ogawa serotype of the bacteria, the student representative said. On Friday, 47 female medical students, all residents of Kaveri Hostel within BMCRI, were admitted to Victoria Hospital due to symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

Among these students, four with severe symptoms have been placed in the ICU, while the others are receiving treatment, with the area cordoned off for containment, TOI reported, citing sources. Symptoms began surfacing among the students on Thursday, raising concerns about potential transmission if contaminated drinking water is the source.

Dr. Ramesh Krishna, BMCRI's Dean and Director, confirmed the admission of 47 hostel residents to Victoria Hospital on Friday. The Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Department on Friday disclosed six confirmed cholera cases in the state so far this year, with five reported in March. However, the department clarified that these cases are sporadic and do not constitute an outbreak, attributing them to various factors including extreme heat and water scarcity.


Health & Family Welfare Department Commissioner D Randeep stated that only culture tests can definitively diagnose cholera, cautioning against assuming all diarrheal cases as cholera. He emphasized the importance of drinking safe water and avoiding outside food to prevent such conditions. Notably, previous outbreaks occurred in December last year in Bengaluru Rural district's Hoskote, with 15 reported cases. (With PTI inputs)