The recent typhoid outbreak in Gandhinagar, with over 150 people hospitalised and children losing their lives, is a serious public health warning. This isn’t just about one city. It’s about how quickly water-borne diseases spread when prevention fails.

What you can do right now (prevention) ➡️ Drink only boiled or filtered water

➡️ Use safe water even for brushing teeth

➡️ Avoid street food, raw salads, and cut fruits

➡️ Eat freshly cooked, hot meals

➡️ Wash hands thoroughly with soap before eating

➡️ Get tested if fever lasts more than 2–3 days

What authorities must act on urgently

➡️ Immediate water quality testing across all affected areas

➡️ Pipeline inspection and repairs, not just advisories

➡️ Temporary alternate safe water supply where contamination is suspected

Clear public communication on affected zones 

Proactive screening camps in high-risk areas

 What actually happens in typhoid

 Typhoid isn’t a “normal fever.” It is caused by Salmonella typhi and spreads through contaminated water and food. If diagnosis or treatment is delayed, it can lead to:

• Severe dehydration

• Intestinal bleeding or perforation

• Sepsis

• Life-threatening complications, especially in children

Why this matters

Typhoid is preventable. When outbreaks occur, they point to failures in water safety and early detection, not medical capability.

. Awareness spreads faster than infection and it can save lives.

@Ashok Terli