Kendrapada: More than 40 people have been hospitalised following outbreak of gastroenteritis in several villages in Aali block of Odisha’s Kendrapada district, prompting the administration to step up surveillance and containment measures.
Official sources said 44 affected patients from Lokapada, Chandiagadi, Giribandha, Padanapur and Demala villages have so far been admitted to the community health centre (CHC) at Aali, with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramps and weakness.
A medical team from the district headquarters hospital has collected water and stool samples and sent those for laboratory testing in Cuttack to ascertain the cause of the outbreak, they said.
Additional District Medical Officer Shyamasundar Tudu was quoted by PTI as saying that health workers are conducting door-to-door visits, distributing ORS packets and advising residents to drink boiled water and maintain hygiene.
“The situation is under control and under close surveillance,” he said.
Health officials suspect consumption of contaminated drinking water from uncovered wells and storage tanks may have triggered the outbreak.
Local health authorities said adequate stocks of medicines are available and preventive measures have been intensified in the affected villages.
