Rourkela: As the death toll due to diarrhoea outbreak in Odisha’s Rourkela mounted to ten on Tuesday, laboratory tests of some samples confirmed the presence of cholera-causing bacteria.
Altogether ten deaths have been reported so far in Rourkela while over 500 others have been admitted to hospitals following symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting. Around 400 of the patients are undergoing treatment at Rourkela Government Hospital (RGH), sources said.
The toll, which stood at nine, mounted to ten with reports about the death of an eight-year-old girl from Tilaknagar.
As the spread of diarrhoea sparked health concerns in the steel city, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is likely to review the situation in Rourkela with the senior officials in the evening.
Stool samples had been sent to Sundargarh for test and reports have confirmed it to be cholera, while some others have E.Coli, doctors said. They advised people to consume adequate ORS and eat food after washing their hands properly.
After death audit report, it can be confirmed whether the deaths were caused by cholera or some other reason, Rourkela Government Hospital (RGH) superintendent, Sudharani Pradhan told media
Sources said that the tests of samples confirmed the presence of vibrio cholerae bacteria that causes cholera.
Commissioner of Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC) said there has been considerable improvement in the situation in the city.
While diarrhoea cases in some areas are declining, ten additional doctors and paramedical staff have been roped in including some epidemiologists from Sundargarh and Bhubaneswar.
As many as 36 leakages in water pipelines at different places in Rourkela have been repaired by the WATCO. RMC is continuously checking food and water samples from affected areas, he added.
The patients are being treated at RGH, Ispat General Hospital (IGH) and Hi-Tech Medical College and Hospital.
Some patients, mainly from slum areas, have reportedly complained of receiving unclean piped water. Health officials said that the most likely reason appears to be water contamination and claimed the local authorities delayed in launching health education and awareness which could have restricted the spread.
