Jaundice returns to Odisha as 50 test positive in Bolangir 

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bolangir, May 2:

After a brief lull, the killer jaundice has reared its ugly head again in Odisha as scores of people are afflicted with the water-borne disease in Bolangir district.

jaundice

The district administration is collecting water and blood samples to test for the infection. Of the samples collected, at least 50 people have tested positive for the infection. The water supplied by the public health department is suspected to be the culprit behind the spread of the disease.

Meanwhile, the department has discontinued the piped water supply to contain further aggravation of the situation. Health officials have advised the local people not to consume government water supply and drink water from other sources after properly boiling it.

Besides, the Bolangir civic body is supplying free halogen tablets to the people so that they can purify the water to make it potable.

“Jaundice has affected almost all in the locality. I passed yellow urine and suspected  that I have a jaundice infection. My fears were proved right as I was detected with jaundice after the urine test was found positive,” a jaundice infected patient, Subhas Suna said.

The public health department has been asked to stop supply of piped water with immediate effect.

“Jaundice is spreading due to contaminated water. We have asked PHD authorities to stop piped water supply and provide drinking water through tankers,” Bolangir CDMO, Rabi Narayan Tripathy said.

Notably, around 4000 jaundice cases have been reported in several districts across the state in the last few months. While Sambalpur town alone accounted for 2,945 cases, Cuttack reported 116 cases.

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