Viral-gastro outbreak lays Kolkata low, doctors fear case spike

KOLKATA: An outbreak of viral fever and gastro-intestinal diseases, with symptoms of mild stomach upset that’s often worsening into diarrhoea, has affected scores across Kolkata over the last one week, say physicians and hospitals. A few cases of severe typhoid have also been reported, which, according to doctors is unusual at this time of the year.
Since it has coincided with the onset of monsoon in the city, the upsurge could worsen and spread more quickly over the next fortnight, fear experts. The rise in the number of patients suffering from stomach infection-related fever has gone up by at least 10%-15% over the last four days, according to some city clinics and hospitals.

Seasonal changes during monsoon onset often leads to a rise in viral fever and stomach problems, said Chand Bhargava, medical consultant, Apollo Clinic Mukundapur, that has witnessed a 10% rise in such patients. “While so far, we were seeing an average of three patients per week, there has been a 10% rise in these cases recently,” said Bhargava.
Charnock Hospital has seen a ‘significant surge’ in patients with stomach and gastrointestinal diseases. “Symptoms range from mild stomach discomfort to severe gastroenteritis. This uptick can be attributed to various factors, including changes in dietary habits, increased consumption of contaminated food or water and seasonal variations,” said Jayanta Paul, gastroenterologist at Charnock Hospital.
He added that it is important to ensure that food is properly cooked and water is hygienic.
Manipal Hospitals, too, have witnessed a similar spurt in the number of patients seeking treatment for stomach viruses and fever, including a few cases of severe typhoid. “While both gastrointestinal diseases and typhoid cases rise around the onset of monsoon, this time typhoid has struck early. We have received a few very severe cases that generally afflict dengue patients,” said Sayan Chakrabarty, infectious diseases physician at Manipal.
“Viruses like rota and norovirus strike in early monsoon leading to a surge in viral attacks and gastrointestinal issues,” said Chakrabarty.
Peerless Hospital has received several patients with bacteria who had high fever with loose motion and dysentery over the fortnight. “At least seven to eight typhoid cases were detected, some very severe. It is the salmonella typhi bacteria that causes typhoid or enteric fever. Pathogenic strains of escherichia coli (e-coli) have also been detected along with a few shigella cases. We have also found campylobacter jejuni and vibrio cholerae (causes cholera) in multiple cases with gastrointestinal symptoms,” said Peerless microbiologist Bhaskar Narayan Chaudhuri.
Medica has seen a 10%-15% surge in gastrointestinal cases, both at the OPD and in admissions. ILS Hospitals Howrah has seen a rise in Hepatitis A and E cases, according to Subhadip Laskar, consultant gastroenterologist.