Jajpur/ Bhubaneswar, Jun 11 (PTI) Two persons died and over 500 people are suffering in the diarrhoea outbreak in Odisha’s Jajpur district, officials said on Wednesday.
A 70-year-old man was declared dead on arrival at the Vyasanagar Hospital, while a 34-year-old died at the Danagadi Community Health Centre, District Collector P Anvesha Reddy said.
Among the worst-hit areas are Dharamsala, Jajpur, Danagadi, Korei and Rasulpur blocks, where hospitals are overwhelmed with patients showing gastrointestinal symptoms, officials said.
The waterborne disease was initially detected in Dharmasala on Monday night, they said.
More than 20 critically ill patients were sent to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, Director of Public Health Nilakantha Mishra said.
Health Secretary Aswathy S said a multi-sectoral team has been sent to the district to identify the cause behind the outbreak.
A team of doctors have also been sent to the district to ensure proper treatment of patients, while the district administration has also mobilised additional manpower to the hospitals, she said.
The collector, meanwhile, visited the hospitals where the diarrhoea patients are undergoing treatment, and urged the people to consume only boiled or disinfected water.
Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Prakash Chandra Bal said house-to-house surveys were being conducted in the affected villages.
“Accompanied by ASHA and Anganwadi workers, the state-level team is meeting families of patients and collecting water and stool samples to help determine the outbreak’s source,” he said.
Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) teams are working on disinfection of drinking water sources, officials said.
ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and multi-purpose health workers have been supplied with halogen tablets, medicines, ORS packets and awareness materials for distribution among the people, they said.
People have been advised to take all precautionary measures and adhere to hygienic practices, they added. PTI COR BBM BBM SOM
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