Pani Puri is only partially to blame for typhoid, say city's physicians

Hyderabad: Cold foods and non-filtered water are responsible for increasing typhoid cases in the city, state general physicians.

The Director of Public Health Dr Srinivas Rao on Tuesday said that pani puri is responsible for the rise in typhoid cases in the city but general physicians say that it is only partially responsible. "Typhoid is caused due to water and food contamination and those foods which are not heated properly," they say.

In Tuesday's press meet, Dr. Rao said, "All Typhoid cases in particular are Pani puri cases. It can also be called a Pani Puri disease. People eat it for the taste but they do not understand how harmful it is."

Dr. Rao further requested the vendors to take extra care during this season. "They ought to boil the water before using it and ensure it is hygienic. They should also ensure that mosquitos and flies don't breed near food," he added.

Dr Rahul Agarwal, general physician at Care hospitals explains, "Pani Puri has mixtures of water and they can be contaminated as the source of the water used is not known."

Similarly foods which are consumed cold are also suspected to be the reason for contamination. Alos, fecal matter gets mixed in water and it is often noted that the pathogens are consumed via food and water leading to typhoid.

Dr J Sateesh, general physician explains, "Contamination is through hands and house flies. These two are the agents as food handling is the means for onset of diseases."

There are co-infections with typhoid and dengue being noted.

Co-infections of dengue and COVID 19 are also reported. Doctors state that excess rains in the last five days have led to water logging and it will require precautions on the part of people and the government will have to take strong measures to control mosquitoes.