Diarrhoea Outbreak Claims One More Life In Odisha’s Rourkela, Toll Rises To 5

Rourkela: The diarrhoea outbreak has claimed one more life in Odisha’s Rourkela, taking the toll to 5 in 3 days, sources said on Sunday.

The deceased has been identified as Pranab Kishore Swain (50), owner of an eatery stall near the railway station in the city. He succumbed at the Hi-Tech Medical College & Hospital (HTMCH) on Saturday night.

According to sources, 116 more affected are undergoing treatment at Rourkela Government Hospital (RGH). Patients reportedly started arriving at the hospital on December 11 and the number kept on rising over the next few days. Four persons, including three women, died in last two days. The deceased – Glosan Samanta (38), Nancy Dubey (75), Phulatoli Gauda (23) and Ahalya Naik (70) – hailed from Panposh and Udit Nagar in the city.

While diarrhoea cases have been reported from Panposh, Udit Nagar, Chhend and various other places here and the outskirts, microbiologists from Sundargarh on Saturday collected samples for testing. A two-member team from Bhubaneswar has also been sent to Rourkela to take stock of the situation and coordinate with the doctors and paramedics deployed for treatment of the diarrhoea patients.

Rourkela Municipal Corporation commissioner Dr Subhankar Mohapatra earlier told the media that diarrhoea cases have been reported from the city area with no specific source point. The corporation has started sanitation and water purification in the affected areas and taking measures to prevent further outbreak.

Sundargarh Chief District Medial and Public Health Officer Dharani Ranjan Satpathy said that most patients are from Rourkela. “Water contamination appears to be the most likely reason for the diarrhoea outbreak,” he added.

At least 12 teams are distributing medicines in different parts of Rourkela city. Six teams from the civic body and six teams from the Health department are also visiting different areas to distribute medicines and examine drinking water, the sources added.