Govt takes measures to bring diarrhoea outbreak in Jajpur under control
Bhubaneswar/Kendrapada: The state govt on Wednesday started work on war footing to bring the diarrhoea outbreak in Jajpur under control, a day after two persons died in the district, while over 300 continue to be affected.
The Jajpur administration has mobilised medical teams and referred 30 critical patients to SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack. The hospital's medical superintendent has been asked to remain alert about their proper treatment. "Experts from the Maharaja Jajati Keshari Medical College and Hospital in Jajpur are also looking into the treatment of critical cases. Six medicine specialists from SCB have also been deputed to the district," said Dr Nilakantha Mishra, the director of public health services.
On Tuesday, Sanatan Patra (34) of Kalinganagar and Tularam Sharma (62) of Jajpur road died in the outbreak, which has primarily affected areas in Dharmasala, Danagadi, Sukinda and Korei blocks and Vyasanagar civic body area.
Field-level action has also been intensified under the supervision of health secretary Aswathy S.
Mishra, along with two rapid action teams consisting of medical officers, microbiologists, epidemiologists and the joint director of the integrated disease surveillance programme from the state level, arrived in Jajpur and started field operations in coordination with the chief district medical and public health officer, Prakash Chandra Bal.
"All patients in the affected areas and the sporadic cases in adjoining places are being quickly attended to by rapid action teams constituted at the district level," added Mishra.
"We have deployed teams of doctors to the affected areas and are taking necessary steps to check the spread of the waterborne disease," said Prakash. "Sufficient medicines have been stocked in hospitals to treat patients," he added.
Medical teams have collected water samples for testing from the affected villages on Tuesday and Wednesday.
An official statement from the health department said teams from the rural water supply and sanitation are working on disinfecting drinking water sources. Food inspecting teams are working at the ground level, while health sub-centres, ASHA and Anganwadi workers and multi-purpose health workers have been supplied with halogen tablets, medicines and ORS packets for distribution among people. Mass awareness activities are also being done by the district administration.
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