4 infants die of unknown disease, 3 critical in Malkangiri

Malkangiri: Death of four infants in the last five days has spread panic among people of Siadimala village in the tribal-dominated Malkangiri district. Three more children are reportedly suffering from the unknown disease.

Meanwhile, a medical team led by Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Amarendra Mohanty has reached the village, about 10 km from Malkangiri, and collected blood samples of the affected persons.

The blood samples would be sent to Regional Medical Research Centre in Bhubaneswar for examination and diagnosis of the disease, the CDMO said.

The affected children have shown signs of high temperature, vomiting and respiratory distress. They have been admitted to the district headquarters hospital, he added.

According to reports, the first death was reported on September 29 and the infants were aged between 3 and 6 months.

“We urge the government to take appropriate and immediate steps to detect the deadly disease and provide adequate medical facilities to those suffering from it,” a villager said.

Around 90 children had died in Malkangiri last year from suspected Japanese Encephalitis.