December

Sri Lanka - 15 people hospitalized due to food poisoning
29 Dec 2008
Colombo Page [edited][iFSN]
According to this story, fifteen people have been admitted to the Ragama Teaching Hospital due to food poisoning at a wedding reception in the area. The Acting Director of the Ragama Hospital said the patients were admitted to the hospital this morning as they started to vomit and faint. Two children were also among the patients. Few of them are in critical condition, said the Director of the hospital.
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Sri Lanka - Leptospirosis
28 Dec 2008
Lanka Times [edited] [Promed]
It is reported that rat fever (Leptospirosis) is rapidly spreading in the North Western Province, a health official warns. According to a doctor from the Kurunegala Epidemiology Unit, 55 people have died of the disease, out of the 280 cases reported in 2008. She said the deaths were reported mainly from Narammala, Pannala and Mawathagama MoH areas of the Kurunegala district. The victims were in the age group of between 25-29 years and included farmers, miners and those involved in the clay industry.
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November

India - Students shun school after five killed by contaminated milk
15 Nov 2008
Thaindian News - IANS [edited][iFSN]
Students of a government-run school in Jharkhand stayed away on Children’s Day while teachers fled in fear, following the death of five children after drinking contaminated milk. On Thursday evening, five students of the Adivasi Residential School at Baridih in Bero block, about 40 km from here, died and more than 60 fell ill after eating snacks and drinking milk. The angry villagers blocked roads Friday to protest the deaths. The incident has created panic among the students and most of them were taken away by their parents. “Which parent will sit back when there is a risk to their children’s life? We cannot allow our children to die by eating poisoned food,” said Gopal Oraon, whose son studies in the school. The school has 248 students. Out of them, five died and 66 fell ill after eating snacks and drinking milk provided by the school authorities. According to parents, students had refused to drink the milk as it had a bad smell but the hostel superintendent Yogeshwar Sahu forced them, drinking some himself in an attempt to convince them. He is also undergoing treatment in the Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS), Ranchi where 21 other students are also admitted.
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Indonesia - Diarrhea, fatal (West Sulawesi)
15 Nov 2008
The Jakarta Post [edited] [Promed]
According to this story, a diarrhea outbreak has killed 12 people in Polewali Mandar regency, West Sulawesi since October 2008, with nearly 200 residents seeking treatment in hospitals and local Puskesmas (community health centers). The Polewali Mandar Health Agency head said Tuesday that out of more than 1500 residents who sought treatment, around 150 remain hospitalized due to the illness. He said the outbreak was the worst in four years to hit Polewali Mandar, and had spread to the districts of Pambusuang, Mapilli, Batu Panga, Kanreapia, and Pekkabata. It is reported that the outbreak occurred after floods inundated the area, forcing residents to rely on contaminated water for consumption and cleaning. Reports from the area show that many residents in the flooded areas were not boiling their water adequately, or were simply consuming it directly from the contaminated sources.
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October

Nepal - Dysentery (Central Region)
12 Oct 2008
China View, Xinhua News Agency report [edited] [Promed]
According to this story, around 400 people in central Nepal are affected by dysentery, which has killed 3, The Himalayan Times reported on Sunday [12 Oct 2008] also leaving 40 critically ill at Lapa Village Development Committee (VDC) in Dhading district of the Central Development Region, some 50 km (31 mi) northwest of Nepali capital Kathmandu. Dysentery, which has been raging in Dhading district for over a week has affected more than 400 people at local area called Chepangcheng, Kachet, Humrang, Palange, Khading, and Thulogaun in Lapa VDC, the report quoted a local social worker Jivan Tamang as saying.
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India - Diarrhea, fatal (Assam)
18 Oct 2008
Merinews [edited] [Promed]
According to this story, a total of 6 people have died and another 25 suffer from diarrhea in the hospitals of Golaghat and Dergaon while an allegation of inadequate health facilities has come into focus. The people died between 12 and 17 Oct 2008. It is reported that those people belonged to Misamara Tea Estate of Golaghat district. It is to note that a total of 25-30 people died of diarrhea at the same garden some 3 years back, too. People say that it is because of impure water, which causes the disease among the tea-garden population
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India – Food poisoning in liquid sweets (Maharashtra)
10 Oct 2008
WebIndia123.com [edited]
According to this story, more than 200 people, most of them children, were admitted to various hospitals due to the poisoning after consuming Basundi (a form of liquid sweet), which was purchased from Pradeep Sweet Mart at Nigdi area of the city [Pune, Maharashtra state] here this evening [10 Oct 2008]. Police said that 3 persons who [were] reported to be [in] serious condition] have been admitted to government hospital at Nigdi. Police said around 190 people have been admitted in various hospitals. 8 members of Sharangadhar family were affected in the incident. The PCMC medical officials have send the sample for inspection. Police have sealed the shop, and arrested the owner of the sweet mart.
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India - Cholera (Gujarat)
1 Oct 2008
Press Trust of India (PTI) [edited] [Promed]
It is reported that a threat of epidemic looms over Valiya taluk [taluk refers to an administrative subdivision - Mod.LL] here as the district administration has declared 11 villages as "cholera-infected", including 1 as the "worst hit". Vitthalgam village in Valiya taluk has been declared as the 'worst' hit. While Sadigam, Rajgadh, Choramla, Vandariya, Bhamadiya, Umargam, Jabugam, Kosyadi, Bharadiya, Holkotar, and Nicoli villages, where a few patients have been affected by the disease, have been identified as "cholera-infected," according to a notification issued yesterday by the District Collector.
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September

India - Cholera (New Delhi)
27 Sep 2008
The Times of India [edited] [Promed]
According to this story, cases of cholera reported in September [2008] have gone up due to increased contamination of drinking water after floods in the Yamuna. Until 22 Sep 2008, 136 cases of cholera have been reported as compared to 106 cases reported in 2007 in September.
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Nepal - Diarrhea, fatal (Eastern Region)
8 Sep 2008
Nepal News [edited] [Promed]
At least 8 more persons including 3 children who were displaced by the Koshi floods and taking shelter in various government-run camps in Sunsari and Saptari districts, have died of high fever and diarrhea in the past 24 hours. The Himalayan Times quoted Sunsari District Office as saying that a 5-year-old and a 50-year-old, both Haripur-8 residents, died of fever in Sunsari on Sunday [7 Sep 2008]. 4 others of Haripur-2 had died of dysentery Saturday night [6 Sep 2008]. Two other children, who had come to Koshi colony in Bhardaha of Saptari to take shelter from Sitapur village of India, died due to diarrhea on Sunday [7 Sep 2008]. According to the daily, the death toll from flood related diseases stands at 36, 25 in Sunsari and 11 in Saptari. Health workers warn that diarrhea is gradually turning into an epidemic in the camps due to poor sanitation condition of the displaced people and lack of enough toilets. They are also complaining of low quality food being distributed under World Food Program and lack of clean drinking water, worsening the condition at the camps.
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India - Cholera (West Bengal)
7 Sep 2008
The Times of India [edited] [Promed]
According to this story, around 70 people at Sidhar village under Suti-I block in Murshidabad are suffering from cholera for the last week or so. The disease has already claimed 2 lives. Sources said all the tube wells in the village are lying defunct for the last few months. Some of the wells are also in a poor condition. So, the villagers were collecting drinking water from river Banshlai. The disease possibly broke out as villagers drank the water without boiling it. Two children, aged 2 and 4, have died of the disease. It is reported that eleven victims have been admitted to Raghunathganj and Aahiran hospitals in a critical condition.
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August

India - Cholera (Delhi)
25 Aug 2008
Sindh Today, Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) report [edited] [Promed]
Delhi has reported 450 cases of cholera in 2008, the civic authorities said [Mon 25 Aug 2008] and felt that the situation may worsen in the wake of the recent floods in Yamuna. The head of the health committee of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) said MCD has already launched a campaign to spread awareness about cholera across the city.
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India – Undiagnosed fatal illness (Uttar Pradesh)
11 Aug 2008
Thaindian News, Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) report [edited] [Promed]
According to this story, two more children have died of an unidentified disease marked by high fever in a village in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur rural district, taking the toll to 4 in the past 3 days, officials said Monday [11 Aug 2008]. On Saturday [9 Aug 2008], 2 children died in Muktapur village of Gajner block and two more have succumbed to the "mysterious" disease Sunday [10 Aug 2008] in Mangolpur village, a district official said. Kanpur dehat (rural) district is about 100 km (62 mi) from [Kanpur]. It is reported that the disease has affected nearly 100 kids in Muktapur. According to the district's chief medical officer, it is a water-borne disease. He added that the disease was due to waterlogging in most of the areas and unsafe drinking water used by villagers. An administrative official and two health workers have been suspended for failing to inform district authorities about the disease.
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July

Indonesia - Cholera - (West Papua)
29 Jul 2008
Canada.com, Agence France-Presse (AFP) report [edited] [Promed]
According to church authorities, at least 172 villagers died in a cholera outbreak that has triggered unrest in Indonesia's remote eastern Papua province. Church aid workers in the Kamuu valley [West Papua] confirmed the victims had died from severe diarrhea and vomiting caused by cholera, said a Catholic brother from the Jayapura archdiocese. It is reported also in this story, that the source of the outbreak, which began in April 2008, was still unknown, but the disease appeared to be spreading via drinking water from a river and products in markets in the highland region.
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India - Cholera (Haryana)
25 Jul 2008
Express India [edited] [Promed]
According to this story, as many as 13 more cases of suspected cholera were reported from the Government Hospital, in Panchkula, on Thursday [24 Jul 2008]. The health officials said that out of all the 13, the condition of five patients was serious as they were suffering from acute diarrhea. "All these cases have symptoms of cholera but we can confirm them only when the reports from the Post Graduate Institute (PGI) come after 2-3 days," said a local health official. It is also reported that the official count of cholera cases is now at 27 in the Panchkula district. In the Government Hospital alone, eight patients have succumbed to the disease.
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Nepal - Diarrhea, fatal (Central region)
24 Jul 2008
Nepal News [edited] [Promed]
According to this story, at least seven persons have died and hundreds others fallen sick due to a serious outbreak of diarrhea in Sindhuli district in the past week. Among those who have lost their lives to diarrhea are two minors. Reports said that five persons died at the district hospital while undergoing treatment whereas two others lost their lives in the affected villages. It further said that hundreds of people in rural parts of the district have taken ill after contracting a serious bout of diarrhea-related diseases. The district hospital said that a medical team with necessary medicine is on the way to the affected areas. The hospital has been receiving an average of 70 diarrhea patients everyday.
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India - Cholera, diarrhea (Delhi)
18 Jul 2008
Daily Pioneer [edited] [Promed][direct link to news story no longer available. - Mod.Promed]
According to this story, cholera has claimed three lives at Sector 7 JJ Colony in Dwarka of west Delhi. About 70 more people have been detected having this disease. According to residents of the colony, there is hardly any family in the area that is not affected by the disease. According to residents, a few victims have been admitted to the Deen Dayal Upadhaya Hospital. Others have been admitted in nursing homes located in the nearby areas. According to a municipal health officer the deaths were due to gastroenteritis and not cholera.
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June

India - Cholera (Karnataka)
17 Jun 2008
Deccan Herald [edited] [Promed]
In another suspected outbreak of cholera in the city [Bangalore], two people have died at Tigalarapalya in the Peenya Industrial Area since Saturday [14 Jun 2008]. Although the residents of the area attributed the deaths to cholera, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials denied it.The chief medical officer at the Jai Maruthi Nursing Home confirmed that 4 to 5 cases of gastroenteritis had been treated at the hospital. While three had been admitted, as they were serious, none tested positive for cholera using the hanging drops test, he said. Already two of the patients have been discharged, he added. According to sources, people are availing treatment for gastroenteritis at the Primary Heath Center at Tigalarapalya. Water samples have been sent for testing as well.
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May

Nepal - 2 die after consuming contaminated food in Gorkha
16 May 2008
The Himalayan Times [edited] [iFSN]
According to this story, two persons died and more than 70 have fallen ill after they ate contaminated food in Borlang VDC of Gorkha district on last Tuesday. According to a local, the incident took place after members of the Newar community in Ward Nos 3, 4, 5 and 9 of Borlang VDC consumed contaminated food after attending a community festival on Tuesday. It is reported that those who consumed the food after the festival suffered from headache, fever and diarrhea and that a 29-year-old died yesterday while he was being rushed to hospital after he fell ill. According to a source at the Gorkha hospital, another person died while being taken to Kathmandu for treatment.
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Nepal - Diarrhea, fatal (Far Western region)
15 May 2008
Nepal News [edited] [Promed]
According to this story, diarrhea has taken a serious toll in Sapata VDC in Bajura district following its outbreak 2 weeks ago. So far, 3 people have died and more than a dozen villagers are in a critical state due to the deadly outbreak.
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Myanmar - Cyclone Survivors Now Racked by Disease
9 May 2008
Irrawaddy [edited]
It is reported in this story that one in 5 children who survived in the areas hit by Cyclone Nargis is suffering from diarrhea, according to a UNICEF official in [Yangon]. The UNICEF's chief of health and nutrition, told the Associated Press that the number could still rise. Outbreaks of cholera and malaria are also being reported in the delta region, where the cyclone created all the conditions for epidemics.
Related stories
16 May 2008- Cholera, post-cyclone - (Irrawaddy)
Reuters UK [edited] [Promed]
It is reported that an international aid agency has confirmed some cases of cholera in Myanmar's cyclone-hit Irrawaddy delta but has also stated that the number was in line with normal levels in previous years. According to this story, diarrhea, dysentery, and skin infections have afflicted some cyclone refugees.
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India - 103 taken ill after eating contaminated food in Varanasi
04 May 2008
Express News [edited]
According to this story, after consuming contaminated food at a marriage party, as many as 103 people were taken ill at Amada village Chandauli district on Saturday. “Initial findings suggest that khoya and paneer used in preparing the edibles was contaminated. Food samples have been sent for laboratory test,” said the Chief Medical Officer in Chandauli.
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April

Bangladesh - Diarrhea - (Barisal)
24 Apr 2008
The New Nation [edited]
According to this story, diarrhea is spreading [alarmingly] in 40 upazilas [subdistricts, the lowest level of administrative government in Bangladesh - Mod.LL Promed] of 6 districts of Barisal division as reported by the different sources of health offices. Sources at the district civil surgeon offices of the Barisal divisional health directorate said the figures updated on Monday night [21 Apr 2008] show that in April 2008 more than 3000 people have been reported to be affected by diarrhea and 2 are reported to be dead in Barisal division.The situation is worst in the island district of Bhola where the number of diarrhea patients passed 1600 in April 2008 with at least 2 deaths in the past 10 days. In Barisal district the number of diarrhea patients treated in public hospitals passed 500, in Patuakhali 650, in Barguna 450, in Pirojpur 350, and in Jhalakati 300, reported the divisional health directorate sources.
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Nepal - Diarrhea - (Eastern Region)
24 Apr 2008
Kantipur Online [edited]
Patients of diarrhea-related diseases have been on increase in Siraha district following the onset of a scorching hot season in the region. According to a district hospital source, the number of diarrhea and other stomach-related diseases has been surging mainly due to the prevailing poor sanitary conditions. The chief at the district public health office said that the district hospital and other health posts in the district are now packed with diarrhea patients.
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India (West Bengal) – Cholera
21 Apr 2008
The Times of India [edited]
According to this story, over the last 5 days, 2 people have died of cholera at Beldanga. Another 60 or so people are suffering from the disease. The worst hit have been wards 8 and 9 of Beldanga Municipality. According to local sources, around 30 people of Khanpara have been affected by the disease. 5 days ago, a 64-year-old died and yesterday [20 Apr 2008], a 2-year-old child died from the same disease.
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Thailand - Suspected puffer fish poisons 140
20 Apr 2008
thewest.com.au - AFP [edited]
Local media reported today that more than 140 people have been rushed to hospital in northern Thailand after snacking on fish balls thought to be made from the highly-poisonous puffer fish. According to a local newspaper, villagers in Nan province were given a soup containing the fish balls at a funeral, and soon began vomiting, complaining of numbness in the tongue and shortness of breath. After being rushed to hospital, doctors deduced that the funeral-goers had symptoms in line with puffer fish poisoning. They are being kept in hospital under observation.
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Bangladesh - Diarrhea - (Dhaka)
18 Apr 2008
China View, Xinhua News Agency report [edited]
According to this story, the diarrhea situation in Bangladesh has worsened day by day with the temperature increases. The International Center for Diarrhea Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR, B), a special research center and hospital for diarrhea patients in the capital Dhaka, has received hundreds of diarrhea patients over the last week. According to an official of ICDDR told, they received 418 diarrhea patients on Thursday [17 Apr 2008]. She said that usually more children are affected by diarrhea, but this year [2008] more adult diarrhea patients were admitted to the hospital. The official said the high temperature is the reason behind the breakout of the diarrhea, as the weather has become hotter and hotter since the beginning of April 2008. Most of the diarrhea patients are from the lower-income group who work very hard in the high temperature. They have no access to safe water and healthy food and [easily become dehydrated] in the hot weather, [all of which can lead] to diarrheal disease.
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March

Indonesia - Contaminated water cause gastro outbreak
28 Mar 2008 [edited]
Jakarta Post - Irawaty Wardany
The Bali Health Agency was cited as confirming that the gastroenteritis outbreak that killed four people and left 178 hospitalized in Karangasem regency was caused by water contaminated with E. coli bacteria. Samples taken from water sources and reservoirs in the area were contaminated with E. coli bacteria, the Head of Bali Health Agency communicable disease division said. Two died from gastroenteritis, while another two died due to complications from diseases triggered by the gastroenteritis infection, the Agency Head said.


India - Child dies after consuming chicken
23 Mar 2008
The Statesman [edited]
According to this story, panic gripped Chakmondala village in Birbhum’s Rampurhat-I block after an eight-year-old girl died and four of her family members fell ill after consuming chicken last night. The story says that the area falls under the avian influenza notified area in the district where trading and transportation of chickens have been banned for the next three months. District authorities, however, were cited as saying the girl died due to food poisoning and no symptoms of bird flu were detected. The girl died at the local rural hospital where she was admitted in a critical condition last night. Her four family members were later shifted to Rampurhat sub-divisional hospital for better treatment. According to local residents, the girl and her family had a sumptuous feast yesterday, including chicken, and in the evening the girl fell ill. Late in the night, she was rushed to the local rural hospital after she complained of severe stomach pain and vomiting. The girl breathed her last early this morning. Later, her mother, two brothers and sister with similar symptoms were admitted to Rampurhat hospital. The district administration has confirmed the death but they made it clear the death was not caused by avian influenza.
Related sources
25 Mar 2008 - The Pioneer
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Myanmar - Cholera
4 Mar 2008
The Irrawaddy [edited]
So far, 61 internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Mon ethnicity have contracted cholera in Ananbon village in eastern Myanmar (formerly called Burma). According to a health program coordinator in Sangkhlaburi, Thailand, 45 Mon persons were diagnosed with cholera this morning [4 Mar 2008], while the other 16 contracted the bacterium over the past 2 days. According to a local resident, 2 cholera patients died last week in the village. The clinic in Ananbon village has been so overcrowded that patients have had to be moved to Jagatrao village, an hour's walk from their homes. Infected persons are being treated by medics at clinics in the 2 villages. This is the 1st time cholera has been so widespread in the area, and it was linked to inadequate toilet usage. Many people in Mon State lack information about health care.
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Bangladesh – Nipah virus
3 Mar 2008
Independent Bangladesh [edited]
Nipah virus claimed 2 more lives on Saturday [1 Mar 2008], raising the death toll to 6 since its fresh outbreak was reported last week [25 Feb-2 Mar 2008] in Manikganj and Rajbari districts [Dhaka Division]. A child, 9, and an adult, 55, died at Rajbari Sadar Hospital on Saturday. Another child, 11, died on Thursday [28 Feb 2008] in Rajbari, while 3 children of a family died in Manikganj. The Institute of Epidemiology Diseases Control and Research on Saturday [1 Mar 2008] confirmed that all the 6 deaths were caused by Nipah virus, which staged a comeback after a gap of 3 years and was now concentrated on 2 districts. Virologists advised people in the Nipah-prevalent areas not to eat fruits bitten or half-bitten by fruit bats, or drink raw juices of palm and date trees. They also suggested that date juice should not be collected in open pitchers.
Related Sources
9 Mar 2008 - The Independent, Bangladesh
3 Mar 2008 - Agence France-Presse (AFP)
3 Apr 2008 - Reuters India
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February

India - Gastro outbreak afflicts 210
27 Feb 2008
Times of India [edited]
According to this story, the number of people down with gastroenteritis after an outbreak in a garment factory on Monday, reached 210. The patients, all employees of the factory in Madanayakanahalli were rushed to hospitals in Rajajinagar and Indiranagar after they complained of severe vomiting, stomachache and dysentery on Monday. And on Tuesday, patients continued to pour in. While, the patients blamed the poor quality of drinking water provided to them at the factory, the company authorities denied their claims.
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India - Cholera (Karnataka)
8 Feb 2008
The Hindu [edited]
According to this story, a suspected case of cholera from a new locality of Bangalore has been confirmed following the outcome of the laboratory tests conducted by the Public Health Institute. Interestingly, the patient, 4 years old and a resident of Janakiram Layout in Seva Nagar, had been treated for the disease and discharged from the Epidemic Diseases Hospital a few days ago. The Health and Family Welfare Department joint director (Communicable Diseases) said that one of the 41 stool samples of the suspected cholera patients sent by the hospital during last week, proved positive for cholera. He said that so far no case of cholera was detected from Bharathinagar, from where a large number of gastroenteritis cases were reported after contamination of drinking water a week ago [28 Jan-3 Feb 2008].
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Thailand - Thai diners show appetite for rat
06 Feb 2008
BBC News [edited]
Thai fast food sellers are, according to this story, enjoying a boom in rat sales, as people learn to love the taste of the rodent. The story says that while rat has long been eaten in Thailand's poorer northern regions, a growing number of the country's roadside vendors are now serving it up.

January

India - Over 200 people affected by food poisoning in Himmatnagar,Gujarat
28 Jan 2008
The Economic Times [edited]
District officials were cited as saying on Monday that more than 200 people were affected by food poisoning after having sweets at a marriage party at Rupal village of Himmatnagar district of North Gujarat. The people fell ill after consuming 'basundi' (a sweet dish consisting milk) at a marriage party in the village. The affected people were taken to a government hospital in a nearby town.
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India - Gastroenteritis - (Karnataka)
28 Jan 2008
Times of India [edited]
According to this story, a 50 year old woman died and at least 20 were rushed to hospital with symptoms of gastroenteritis in Bharatinagar on Sunday [27 Jan 2008] following suspected water contamination. This has set in panic among the residents, forcing the BWSSB [Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board] to stop piped water supply and call in water tankers. Neither the police nor the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike [BBMP-Greater Bangalore Municipal Body] confirmed the death by water contamination. A BBMP medical health officer, admitted examining at least 12 patients on Sunday [27 Jan 2008], but denied reports of death.
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India - 15 taken ill after having ‘Mid-Day’ meal
11 Jan 2008
The Hindu- Andhra Pradesh [edited]
Fifteen students have, according to this story, taken ill and four of them seriously after they ate the food served under the Mid-Day meal scheme in their primary school at Madumuru in PTM mandal near Madanapalle, on the Chittoor-Anantapur border. Four children, including a girl, after initial treatment at Molakalachervu and Madanapalle government hospitals were rushed, reportedly under ‘critical condition’ to the Government - SVRR Hospital, Tirupati, by 108 ambulance. A dead lizard in the buttermilk is suspected to have caused the ‘food poisoning’
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