CM intervenes into diphtheria cases reported from Rayagada district | Bhubaneswar News
BHUBANESWAR/KORAPUT: Chief minister Mohan Majhi on Saturday directed the state health department and ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) to enquire into and find out the reasons for the disease that killed five children in last one month at Manuspadar village of Kashipur in Rayagada district.
Majhi has also directed the health department to take all possible steps to bring the situation to normal.He asked the Panchayati Raj department to provide drinking water supply and construct a motorable road to the place at the earliest.
Official sources said there were five reported deaths at Manuspadar village over a period of one month. “The village is in a remote and difficult area. The state team had visited and camped there to conduct necessary investigations, door to door screening and treatment,” said the official statement of the chief minister’s office.
Health department sources said the first four deaths were not brought to any health facility or health worker. These were cremated at community level. But they were suspected to be cases of Diphtheria. “For the fifth death, samples were sent to ICMR-RMRC for testing. RMRC confirmed that it is a case of diphtheria,” said the official statement.
A prophylactic dose of antibiotic has been given to all susceptible persons in the community. Symptomatic patients are responding to treatment. Health teams are visiting daily and closely monitoring the situation. The situation is under control, said the CMO office.
TOI had reported the deaths on Friday. Currently, three children are undergoing treatment at MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur, while two children and a 61-year-old man were admitted to the district headquarters hospital at Koraput.
The mysterious illness, first reported on June 3, has caused widespread panic among the villagers.
“Blood and throat swab samples of the affected children have been sent for laboratory tests, and we are awaiting the results. However, the patients are being treated for suspected diphtheria, and the situation is currently under control as no new cases have been reported for the past few days,” said Lal Mohan Routray, chief district medical and public health officer, Rayagada, adding, “Efforts are ongoing to manage the situation and prevent further spread of the disease.”
Majhi has also directed the health department to take all possible steps to bring the situation to normal.He asked the Panchayati Raj department to provide drinking water supply and construct a motorable road to the place at the earliest.
Official sources said there were five reported deaths at Manuspadar village over a period of one month. “The village is in a remote and difficult area. The state team had visited and camped there to conduct necessary investigations, door to door screening and treatment,” said the official statement of the chief minister’s office.
Health department sources said the first four deaths were not brought to any health facility or health worker. These were cremated at community level. But they were suspected to be cases of Diphtheria. “For the fifth death, samples were sent to ICMR-RMRC for testing. RMRC confirmed that it is a case of diphtheria,” said the official statement.
A prophylactic dose of antibiotic has been given to all susceptible persons in the community. Symptomatic patients are responding to treatment. Health teams are visiting daily and closely monitoring the situation. The situation is under control, said the CMO office.
TOI had reported the deaths on Friday. Currently, three children are undergoing treatment at MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur, while two children and a 61-year-old man were admitted to the district headquarters hospital at Koraput.
The mysterious illness, first reported on June 3, has caused widespread panic among the villagers.
“Blood and throat swab samples of the affected children have been sent for laboratory tests, and we are awaiting the results. However, the patients are being treated for suspected diphtheria, and the situation is currently under control as no new cases have been reported for the past few days,” said Lal Mohan Routray, chief district medical and public health officer, Rayagada, adding, “Efforts are ongoing to manage the situation and prevent further spread of the disease.”
