Diarrhoea Outbreak Claims Nine Lives in Jajpur; Over 500 Infected

Jajpur: A severe outbreak of diarrhoea has hit Odisha’s Jajpur district, leaving at least nine people dead and over 500 others affected, prompting urgent action from health authorities.

The worst-hit areas include Jajpur Town, Korei, Danagadi, Dharmasala, Rasulpur, Vyasanagar, and Badachana. The outbreak is suspected to have been triggered by food poisoning and the consumption of contaminated drinking water.

With the number of patients rising rapidly, local community health centres have been overwhelmed. Due to a shortage of hospital beds, many patients are being referred to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. At Jajpur District Headquarters Hospital and Jajati Keshari Medical College and Hospital, overcrowding has forced some patients to receive treatment in hospital verandahs.

District Collector P. Anvesha Reddy visited the District Headquarters Hospital to review the situation and assess the medical response. The State Health Department has deployed special medical teams to the affected areas to investigate the root cause and control the spread.

Director of Public Health, Dr Nilakantha Mishra, also visited the district on Wednesday to take stock of the ground reality. He confirmed that the outbreak is not yet under control and said investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the deaths, with contaminated food and drinking water being prime suspects.

Authorities have urged residents to take precautionary measures, avoid consuming untreated water, and report symptoms promptly. Efforts are ongoing to ensure clean water supply and adequate medical support in the affected regions.