Goa Faces Diarrhea Outbreak as 149 People Fall Sick in One Week

Residents have filed a police complaint against the builder, Prabhu Realtors, alleging that untreated sewage was illegally discharged within the premises, posing a serious public health risk. Officials stated that the affected individuals include children and elderly residents. Many have reported symptoms such as vomiting, dehydration, and severe abdominal pain, with several patients requiring hospitalization.

More than 149 cases of diarrhea have been reported within a week at a residential complex in Dabolim, located in South Goa District, with contaminated water suspected to be the primary cause of the outbreak. The cases have been reported from the Prabhu Violeta Residential Complex, which consists of around 200 apartments.

Residents File Complaint Against Builder

Residents have lodged a police complaint against the builder, Prabhu Realtors, alleging that untreated sewage was illegally discharged within the premises, posing a serious risk to public health. Officials said the affected individuals include children and elderly residents. Many have reported symptoms such as vomiting, dehydration, and severe abdominal pain, and several patients have required hospitalization.

149 Cases Reported in One Week

A door-to-door survey conducted by the Cortalim Primary Health Centre since March 14 has identified 149 cases, including three new cases reported on March 17. Authorities have collected water samples from several locations in the area, including a residential flat, an underground tank supplying tap water, a swimming pool, and treated sewage lines used for gardening.

Officials suspect that contaminated water may have contributed to the spread of the infection. The Goa State Pollution Control Board has also carried out independent inspections and sample collection.

As a precautionary measure, the Medical Officer in charge of the Cortalim PHC, Dr. Tejan Lotlikar, on Thursday directed the builder to immediately stop supplying borewell water to residents until test results are received, as it could be a potential source of contamination.