Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Tuesday made it clear that the deaths of two persons in Digapahandi area of Ganjam district were not due to diarrhoea.
Public Health Director Dr Nilakant Mishra told reporters that a preliminary investigation showed that the deaths of two persons were not caused by water-borne disease.
The deceased were identified as Dasa Shabar (70) and Prakash Raitia (35).
Dasa Shabar died on July 3 at his home due to melena. Similarly, Prakash Raitia had sought treatment at a primary health centre on July 7 for stomach pain and vomiting. Despite being advised to visit a community health centre (CHC) or district headquarters hospital for specialised treatment, Raitia returned home, feeling better. However, he succumbed to severe pain later that night on his way to CHC. A post-mortem has been conducted, and the cause of death will be determined once the report is available, an official statement said.
Meanwhile, the diarrhoea outbreak in Ustapalli village of Digapahandi block has been brought under control through a coordinated field program. Since the outbreak, eleven people have been infected. While six of them received treatment at MKCG Medical College Hospital in Berhampur, five were treated at the Digapahandi Group Health Centre.
Five patients have been discharged from MKCGMCH after recovery, and all patients treated at Digapahandi have also been sent back home.
The situation is now under control, with no new patients being admitted to the hospital from the village. However, the Health and Family Welfare Department and the Panchayati Raj Drinking Water Supply Department have instructed field-level officers to continue awareness campaigns and regular sanitation work to prevent any further outbreaks.