Bhubaneswar: The toll due to diarrhoea outbreak in Odisha’s Jajpur reportedly rose to 14 by Sunday even as a central team of health experts arrived here to support the containment efforts.
According to Public health Director Dr Nilakantha Mishra, 1,771 people have been admitted to hospitals in Jajpur district so far. Of these, 1,508 patients have recovered and been discharged, while 258 are currently undergoing treatment. Four blocks and one urban local body in the district have been hit most by the outbreak traced to the Vibrio cholerae bacterium.
“Out of the 41 faecal samples sent to the laboratory from Jajpur district, eight tested positive for Vibrio cholerae. However, the number of affected persons is slowly decreasing,” he told HT.
Mishra confirmed five cholera-related deaths in the state. Investigations are ongoing in five other suspected deaths linked to the outbreak, he added.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mohan Majhi has directed all health centres in districts reporting diarrhoea and cholera cases to remain on high alert and ensure uninterrupted healthcare services to affected communities.
According to a CMO release, immediate steps are being taken to purify drinking water sources in Jajpur district. Restrictions have been imposed on roadside food vendors and food safety inspections are being intensified to prevent contamination.
“Since the outbreak, a medical team from SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack has been treating patients and monitoring the situation. The Health Minister is regularly discussing with doctors and other officials from various districts, monitoring the situation, and taking necessary actions. To assist the state government in controlling the outbreak, a team from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has also arrived in Odisha,” it said.
Sufficient medicines, other supplies, and medical teams have been deployed to control the outbreak. Neighbouring districts have also been alerted to remain vigilant and ramp up preventive measures, it added.
The Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) Department has issued an urgent advisory, directing all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and district-level officials to initiate immediate preventive and response measures.
Principal Secretary Usha Padhee has called for enhanced vigilance and real-time monitoring to ensure the sanitisation and safety of all water sources, with particular attention to vulnerable urban pockets. Senior officers in charge of districts have been instructed to stay closely engaged with the situation on the ground and to immediately flag any clusters or patterns of mass reporting. “Prevention is key. We must act swiftly to safeguard communities and contain the spread,” she said.
The department is also facilitating emergency water quality checks, increased sanitation drives, and public awareness campaigns to prevent further outbreaks, especially during the pre-monsoon period. People have been advised to remain vigilant, consume only safe drinking water, and promptly report any symptoms to the nearest health facility or urban health officials.
Earlier in the day, Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling reviewed the situation in Jajpur and Anandpur sub-division of Keonjhar district.
Also Read: Diarrhoea Outbreak In Odisha: Health Minister Reviews Situation, Meets Patients In Jajpur
