Bhubaneswar: A severe outbreak of diarrhea continues to plague several districts in Odisha, with Jajpur district bearing the brunt of the crisis. Latest reports indicate that the waterborne disease has claimed four to five lives officially, with local sources suggesting the toll could be higher, reaching eight. Over 500 to 700 individuals have been affected across the district, prompting the state health machinery to deploy rapid action teams and intensify control measures.
The outbreak has been particularly grim in areas such as Dharmasala, Vyasanagar municipality, Danagadi, Rasulpur, Korei, Jajpur Sadar, and Badachana blocks. Hospitals, especially the Jajpur district headquarters hospital, are treating over 100 patients, while Community Health Centres (CHCs) in Dharmasala, Jajpur Road, Korei, and Danagadi are also managing a significant caseload. Critical patients, estimated to be between 20 and 70, have been urgently referred to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for specialized care.
District Magistrate Jajpur P Anvesha Reddy has cancelled all leave of officials looking at the health emergency. all offices will remain open during Raja Festival. Raja is a mega festival in the Coastal Odisha.
While investigations are ongoing to pinpoint the exact cause, health officials suspect that contaminated drinking water and food are the primary culprits. Reports also suggest that the consumption of spoiled mangoes and jackfruits, along with food from community feasts, may have contributed to the rapid spread of the illness. Food and water samples have been collected and sent for laboratory testing, with results pending.
In response to the escalating situation, the Odisha Health and Family Welfare Department has mobilized extensive resources. State and district-level multi-sectoral rapid action teams, comprising medical officers, microbiologists, and epidemiologists, have been dispatched to the affected regions. Medical reinforcements include the deputation of six medicine specialists from SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, and supervision of critical cases by specialists from Maharaja Jajati Keshari Medical College and Hospital in Jajpur. Hospitals in the affected areas have been equipped with additional staff, medicines, saline fluids, and injections to manage the influx of patients.
On the ground, ASHA and Anganwadi workers are conducting door-to-door surveys to identify new cases and distribute essential supplies such as ORS pouches, halogen tablets for water purification, medicines, and awareness materials. Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) teams are actively working to disinfect drinking water sources to prevent further contamination. Additionally, food inspecting and disease surveillance teams are closely monitoring the situation.
The health department has issued a public advisory urging residents to adopt strict precautionary measures. These include consuming only boiled and filtered or disinfected water, eating freshly cooked food prepared at home, avoiding unhygienic roadside eateries, and maintaining rigorous hand hygiene. The advisory also emphasizes the importance of drinking ORS to stay hydrated and properly washing fruits before consumption.
While the current focus is primarily on Jajpur, one confirmed death linked to the outbreak has been reported from Anandpur block in Keonjhar district, and sporadic cases have been noted in neighboring Kendrapada. Bhadrak district has not been prominently featured in the latest updates concerning this specific outbreak.
The state government remains committed to bringing the outbreak under control, with constant monitoring by state and district authorities to safeguard public health. The ongoing efforts are in line with existing initiatives like the “Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF)” and the integrated “Malaria, Dengue, and Diarrhea (MDD) Campaign,” which aim to reduce the burden of waterborne diseases, especially during the monsoon season.