Bhubaneswar/Koraput: Chief minister Mohan Majhi on Saturday directed the health department and the ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) in Bhubaneswar to enquire and find out the cause of a disease that has killed five children in the past month at Manuspadar village in Rayagada district’s Kashipur.
Majhi also directed the health department to take all possible steps to normalise the situation.He instructed the panchayati raj department to provide drinking water and construct a motorable road in the village at the earliest.

Health department sources said the first four deaths were not reported to any health facility or health worker, and the bodies were cremated at the community level. These 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 an official statement issued by the CMO. TOI reported the deaths on Friday.
Currently, three children are undergoing treatment at MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur, while two children and a 61-year-old man are admitted to the district headquarters hospital in Koraput.
Lal Mohan Routray, chief district medical and public health officer of Rayagada, said, “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. The situation is currently under control as no new cases have been reported for the past few days.”
He added, “Efforts are ongoing to manage the situation and prevent further spread of the disease.”
Routray said a prophylactic dose of antibiotics has been given to all vulnerable individuals.
He further said symptomatic patients are responding to treatment, and health teams are visiting daily and closely monitoring the situation. The mysterious illness, first reported on June 3, has caused panic among the villagers.

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