Bhubaneswar: Diphtheria claimed one more life in Odisha as the toll rose to six with the death of a minor boy at the MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur.

As per reports, he was admitted to the hospital after being diagnosed with diphtheria. However, his condition deteriorated during treatment. The boy breathed his last on Thursday, informed Suchitra Dash, Superintendent, MKCG Medical College and Hospital.

The deceased hailed from Bandhugaon village in Koraput district.

The Odisha government has launched a special vaccination drive in Rayagada district due to diphtheria outbreak in the Kashipur area. The outbreak has already spread to the bordering districts of Koraput and Kalahandi.

The Health and Family Welfare Department has instructed the district administration to make extensive arrangements to vaccinate children. Kids under one year will receive the pentavalent vaccine, children aged one to seven will get the single-dose diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and tetanus (DPT) vaccine, and those above seven will be given the tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccine.

Health Secretary Shalini Pandit said that the vaccination will initially target non-immunized and under-immunized children identified during a house-to-house survey in Mahushpadar village. The drive will then expand to other hard-to-reach areas and include children who were previously left out or had dropped out.