After Claiming 5 Lives, Suspected Diphtheria Cases Mount To 15 In Odisha’s Rayagada; Health Team Conducts Survey

Rayagada: After claiming five lives, suspected diphtheria seems to be spreading its tentacles in Kashipur area of Odisha’s Rayagada district affecting at least 15 persons.

Another diphtheria patient has been detected at Manuspadar village in Kashipur block of Rayagada, taking the number of patients to 15 in the area, according to Public Health Director Nilakantha Mishra.

The outbreak of the disease occurred in the village since the last week. A health team led by Kalahandi and Rayagada Chief District Medical Officers (CDMOs) have been sent to the village for inspection, he said.

The mobile squad led by CDMOs of Rayagada and Kalahandi are making house-to-house visits and conducting a thorough survey to ascertain the exact reason for the spread of the disease.

A health team from the state had also visited the village, while samples have been collected and sent for laboratory examination.

While the patients are being thoroughly examined and given antibiotics as part of treatment, steps are also being taken to check people in nearby villages. Vaccination will also be done in the area, if necessary, he said.

The condition of the new patient is stable and he is being administered with antibiotics.

Notably, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had on Saturday directed the health authorities to take immediate steps to ascertain the exact reason of the death of five people in Kashipur and contain further spread of the disease.