Cholera Endemic In Odisha's Jajpur, Central Team Says; State Launches 'Stop Diarrhoea' Campaign Amid Spike
A central team found cholera endemic in Odisha's Jajpur, amidst a diarrhoeal disease outbreak. The state is distributing medicine and emphasizing hygiene.
Bhubaneswar, Jun 16 (PTI) A central team, after inspecting diarrhoea and cholera-hit areas in Odisha's Jajpur, on Monday said that cholera was at an endemic stage in the district.
There is no cholera outbreak in the district, it is endemic with just a little surge in cases, Shibani Lahiri, a member of the central team, told reporters here.
"We have seen an outbreak of diarrhoeal diseases. We have given suggestions to the state on water safety, food safety, maintenance of personal hygiene and awareness creation," she said.
The state government has already started distributing medicines in the affected areas and the maximum of the patients have been managed, Lahiri said.
Bhagirathi Diwedi, another member of the central team, said that it was confirmed from laboratory test reports that cholera cases have been detected in the district.
The state authority is monitoring the caseload, he said.
"We are holding discussions with the officers concerned of Odisha and giving necessary suggestions," he said.
A 14-member central team visited Jajpur district on Sunday and held a meeting with the district administration.
The team is also likely to visit some other districts, where diarrhoea cases have been reported.
State Health and Family Welfare Secretary Aswathy S visited the district on Monday and reviewed the preventive measures taken to control the disease.
"The caseload has decreased and few patients with mild symptoms have been admitted to hospitals on Sunday and Monday," Aswathy said.
District Collector P Anvesha Reddy said that about 260 diarrhoea patients are under treatment in different health facilities in the district.
"We are now giving emphasis to disinfection, personal hygiene and awareness campaigns," she said.
Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Bijay Mishra said that the in-patient flow to the hospitals had come down on Monday. While 311 patients were under treatment in the hospitals of the district on Sunday, it came down to 259 on Monday, he stated.
Meanwhile, the local administration in Bari, Dharmasala, Vyasanagar and Binjharpur areas in the district has shut down hotels, eateries, fast-food stalls, meat shops and water packaging units for a temporary period, officials said.
Community gatherings, including weddings, birthdays, religious rituals, and feasts, have also been discouraged, they said.
Apart from Jajpur, diarrhoea cases have been reported in Tangi and Choudwar areas in Cuttack district, Bhuban NAC in Dhenkanal district, Aul block of Kendrapara district, Bhandaripokhari and Dhamnagar areas in Bhadrak district, and Anandapur in Keonjhar district, officials said.
Keeping in view of this, Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling on Monday launched 'Stop Diarrhoea' campaign to prevent the spread of the water-borne disease during this monsoon. The campaign will continue till July.
He inaugurated the campaigning vehicles at Bhuban Community Health Centre in Dhenkanal district and said that both the Union and state governments are giving top priority to protecting the health of the people.
The state government is taking all possible steps for prevention and control of the disease, he said.
Mahaling directed all health workers to go door to door with information leaflets related to awareness messages, ORS, zinc tablets and medicines.
He advised the public to follow the advice of health workers and doctors and to go to the nearest health centre for medical treatment as soon as diarrhoea symptoms appear.
Similarly, the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department has asked all of its field-level officials to disinfect all water sources under their jurisdictions and ensure safe drinking water for the public.
During the last three days, the department officials have disinfected over 1 lakh water sources. PTI BBM BBM ACD
Top Headlines
