Bhubaneswar: Health and Family Welfare Secretary Shalini Pandit today directed Rayagada Collector to take appropriate action for containment of the outbreak of Diphtheria in Manushpadar village of Kashipur Block.
In a letter, Shrimati Pandit asked the Collector to take measures to control the further spread of disease among vulnerable population. She said that daily surveillance activity for early detection fever with sore throat cases to be continued in Manushpur village as well as neighbouring villages/blocks.
Any clinically suspected case to be referred to DHH, Rayagada for early initiation of treatment. Daily surveillance activity to be continued for about 20 days after detection of the last case (double the incubation period) in the block, she said.
The Secretary further asked for engagement of adequate healthcare workers and supervisors for carrying out surveillance activity for early detection of suspected cases for treatment & referral.
“Containment measures to be continued to minimize spread of disease to neighboring villages. The in & out migration from Mahushpadar village to be restricted,” she directed.
Further, the Collector has been directed to prepare a micro plan for rapid assessment of vaccination coverage in Manushpadar village as well as other hard to reach villages in Kashipur block and subsequently, integrated camps to be conducted for vaccination of all left out/dropout children as per National immunization schedule.
As per the instructions, adequate medicines & vaccines should be made available at block to meet any exigency. Inter-departmental convergence meetings at block & district level will be held every day for containment of the outbreak.
The Collector was asked to submit daily surveillance reports and vaccination coverage reports to the State Surveillance unit as well as Directorate of Family Welfare.
It is worthy to mention that the CDM & PHO Rayagada along with the State team visited from 12th to 14th June 2024. The State team along with district, Block and SLNMCH medical team visited the village, which is 11 km from PHC, Dongasil and out of which, 4 km is not motorable due to hilly terrain.
During the visit, an activity plan developed for strengthening surveillance in the area, house to house visit by teams for assessment of vaccination coverage & further planning for mop up drive, IEC activities on personal hygiene & preventive measures etc.
Meanwhile, Public Health Director Nilakantha Mishra said Diphtheria has been spread to neighbouring Koraput and Kalahandi districts. While 15 Diphtheria cases have been detected in Rayagada district so far, one case has been found in Bandhugaon block of Koraput district and 4 to 5 suspected cases detected in Kalahandi district, he said.
The patient detected in Bandhugaon block has been referred to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur for further treatment. The suspected cases of Kalahandi district have been admitted in the Bhawanipatna hospital, he said, adding, the health condition of the suspected cases are stable.
The situation in Rayagada district is under stable condition as no new cases have been detected. Door to door survey and vaccination is going on full swing in the district, Dr.Mishra said.
So far five persons have died due to Diphtheria, of which one died in hospital and four deaths reported in home, he added.