2 Children Test Positive For Rubella In Odisha’s Nabarangpur

Nabarangpur: Two cases of rubella and one of measles have been detected in Odisha’s Nabarangpur district, officials said on Wednesday.

Stating that the samples were taken from five persons in two blocks of the district on April 29, officials said the reports of two showed they have tested positive for rubella.

A senior health official in the district said that the rubella cases have been detected in two children from Nandahandi and Tentulikhunti areas after testing of samples.

While it is not fatal among children, pregnant women are vulnerable as there could be congenital rubella syndrome among their children along with heart ailments, cataract and some other complications, he said.

While Scrub typhus has been ruled out following laboratory tests, two blocks in the district have been affected where cases with fever with rashes have been detected, according to Health Director Bijay Mohapatra.

Rapid response teams (RRTs) are on the ground and keeping a close watch on the situation. The samples have been sent to ICMR for examination.

While ASHA workers are creating awareness in the affected areas, a team from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and another of district medical officials visited the affected area to take stock of the situation.

As rubella is transmitted by airborne droplets when infected people sneeze or cough, two children who were tested rubella positive have been isolated.