Rayagada: Fear of jaundice outbreak has gripped a government tribal girls’ residential school in Odisha’s Rayagada district amid reports of at least 70 students testing positive in last ten days.
According to information, over 100 other students are showing symptoms of jaundice at the school located at Rebadi under Kolnara block of the district.
Sources said the school, run by the ST & SC Development department, houses around 370 girls. The first cases were reported on September 7, when six students developed symptoms including yellowing of the eyes and vomiting. As more students fell ill, health teams were deployed and blood samples of all inmates were collected.
While four students have been admitted to the Rayagada district headquarters hospital, another girl was shifted to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur. She was discharged on Wednesday.
School authorities have stopped the use of a borewell on the campus after it was suspected of being linked to the outbreak. However, officials have not yet established that the borewell water caused the jaundice cases.
The students are now being supplied drinking water through tanks and have been advised to consume boiled water.
Meanwhile, around 20 parents have taken their daughters home, opting for traditional or herbal treatment instead of continuing medical care at the hostel.
Health teams are visiting the school every day and examining the students, while arrangements have been made for providing safe drinking water, according to district welfare officer Asima Rao.