Jajpur: A severe diarrheal outbreak has gripped several areas of Jajpur district in Odisha, claiming two lives and sending over 500 people, including 85 children, to local community health centers for urgent treatment. The health administration is working tirelessly to contain the spread, with senior officials actively monitoring the situation and awaiting a conclusive report on the outbreak’s cause.
The tragic toll includes a 34-year-old man from Mayurbhanj residing in Danagadi and a 70-year-old man from Jajpur Road, both of whom succumbed to the illness. The outbreak has significantly impacted Sukinda and Dharamsala blocks, as well as parts of the Vyasanagar civic body region. Villages such as Baulamal, Matia, Raghunathpur, Pakhara, Chadhheidhara, Korei, and Dasarathapur have reported a surge in cases, overwhelming local medical facilities.
While the exact etiology is yet to be definitively confirmed, health officials strongly suspect contaminated water and food as the primary culprits. Initial investigations also point to factors like the consumption of spoiled or overly ripe mangoes and food from mass gatherings as potential contributors. Water samples have been promptly collected from the affected villages and sent for rigorous testing to pinpoint the source of contamination.
In response to the escalating crisis, Odisha’s Health Secretary, S Aswathy, has confirmed that the Public Health Director is closely overseeing the situation. A diarreha report on the outbreak has already been received, and authorities anticipate that the definitive cause of the diarrhea will be identified soon, paving the way for more targeted interventions. Team Health Report is awaited, details will be known from the Report, said Secretary Health.
Medical teams have been swiftly mobilized, with four dedicated teams of doctors deployed to community health centers in Dharmasala and Korei to manage the increased patient load. Patients are receiving immediate medical attention at these centers, as well as in Sukinda and Jajpur Road. Critically ill patients are being referred to SCB Medical College in Cuttack for advanced care. District Collector P Anvesha Reddy has also requested additional medical teams from the state Health department to bolster the response efforts.
Beyond treatment, the district administration is undertaking extensive preventive measures. Rural Water Supply and Sanitation authorities have been directed to disinfect water bodies across the affected regions. The district’s food safety wing is also implementing stringent preventive protocols to curb further transmission. Sanitation efforts have been significantly ramped up to ensure public hygiene and mitigate the risk of wider spread.
The health department has issued advisories urging residents to exercise extreme caution, emphasizing the importance of consuming only boiled and safe drinking water. The public is also encouraged to seek immediate medical attention if they experience any symptoms of diarrhea or other water-borne illnesses. As investigations continue and the definitive cause is identified, the health authorities remain committed to bringing the outbreak under control and safeguarding the well-being of the affected communities in Jajpur.