Jaundice situation alarming in Odisha’s Millennium City

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Feb 11:

After Sambalpur, jaundice has assumed alarming proportions in Cuttack, Odisha’s Millennium City.

cracked water pipesOfficial sources said while 63 persons had tested positive for the disease by Tuesday evening, the number has now gone up to 68 with five more patients identified since then.

To curb further spread of the water-borne virus, the Health department and Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) officials have taken up urgent repair of cracked water pipes.

Besides, supply of drinking water through tankers and distribution of halogen tablets have begun in the city, officials said.

Dr Prafulla Behera, chief district medical officer (CDMO), Cuttack, said the blood samples of 10 were tested at the Microbiology department of the SCB Medical College and Hospital in the city on Tuesday of which nine were found infected by Hepatitis-E virus.

“Instructions have been given to the Public Health department to take up urgent repair of cracked water pipes. Steps are being taken for chlorination of drinking water with the spraying of bleaching powder. Besides, the Health department has started awareness campaign in the city by circulating leaflets among the residents to take preventive measures against the virus,” Behera said.

People in Thoria Sahi in the city, where nearly 16 persons, including two children of Harijan Sahi, have been affected, alleged that they have been receiving contaminated drinking water for about six months.

“Though we have brought the matter to the notice of the CMC authorities, no action has been taken till date,” said a resident of Thoria Sahi.

Another resident of the Sahi informed that the piped water supplied to their area is sticky and has smells like the drain water.

“We are panicked by the outbreak of jaundice in our area and worried about our children,” said a woman of the locality.

She, however, said CMC officials had come to the locality this morning and distributed halogen tablets.

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