Cholera outbreak: One more patient succumbs in Odisha’s Rayagada

Rayagada: Cholera outbreak in tribal-dominated Rayagada district raised concern as another person died of the bacterial disease taking the toll to eight in Kashipur area so far.

The deceased person has been identified as Arjun Majhi, a resident of Dengaguda village under Kashipur Block in Rayagada district.

According to reports, the 50-year-old patient was under treatment for Cholera. He was discharged from the hospital and returned to his home on July 18. Again, he developed similar symptoms of Cholera following which he succumbed today.

While his family claimed that he died of diarrhoea, no official confirmation has been made yet by the district administration.

Earlier, seven people had died of cholera and about 100 others were infected with the water-borne disease in Kashipur block.

Initially, the district administration was suspecting that the persons died of diarrhoea. Based on a report of ICMR’s Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC), Bhubaneswar, the administration confirmed their deaths were due to cholera.

Following confirmation of cholera outbreak in the district, the administration is focusing on early identification of cases and to provide proper medical attention to the infectees.

Recently, official sources said that the samples of rectal swabs of some patients in the district revealed that there is a presence of Vibrio cholerae bacteria, which has also been found in water used by the villagers under Kashipur Block.

Rayagada’s Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Dr Lalmohan Routray also confirmed that the disease was spreading from contaminated water.

As part of taking initiative measures, the State Health Department has set up two temporary medical camps in the affected areas of Kashipur block to provide medical assistance to cholera-infected patients.

“We have taken initiative measures to check spread of cholera by opening two temporary medical camps in affected areas of Kashipur. The teams of healthcare workers including doctors are visiting door to door to find out whether anyone shows symptoms in remote villages in Rayagada district,” Public Health Director Niranjan Mishra had told media two days ago.

The villagers depending on stream or river water for consumption are being provided with tanker water, Rayagada Collector Swadha Dev Singh said, adding that people have been asked not to use water from rivers, canals, ponds, wells and tube wells for drinking and other purposes till further orders.

In the wake of cholera outbreak in Rayagada, the district administration of neighbouring Koraput has also been put on alert.

Recently, one death was reported due to suspected diarrhoea at Chikamba village in Koraput district creating panic among villagers.

Official sources said that many people have been affected in the tribal district and admitted to hospitals for treatment.