Diphtheria death toll rises to six in Odisha | Bhubaneswar News
BHBANESWAR/BERHAMPUR: Another diphtheria death has been reported in the state. The deceased, a 10-year-old boy from Koraput district, was receiving treatment at the MKCG Medical College and Hospital (MCH) in Berhampur. With this, the number of diphtheria-related deaths in Odisha has reached six within a month.
Suchitra Dash, the principal-cum-medical superintendent of MKCG MCH, reported that the boy, identified as Dipuna from Kumbhariput village in Koraput district’s Bandhugaon block, was admitted to the hospital in critical condition on June 17.He had been referred from SLN MCH, Koraput, and died on Wednesday night while treatment was going on.
Nilakantha Mishra, director of public health, health and family welfare department, mentioned that five cases had been reported from Rayagada district and the sixth one from Koraput district. “So far, we have identified 21 suspected diphtheria cases across three districts (15 from Rayagada, five from Kalahandi, and one from Koraput),” he added.
Mishra also stated that 10 samples have been confirmed as diphtheria positive. “We are awaiting the reports of 11 other cases. We are planning to conduct a vaccination drive in six districts, including the affected Rayagada, Kalahandi, and Koraput districts,” he further added.
An official team from the ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) collected samples from patients receiving treatment at MKCG MCH on Thursday. These samples were taken for further studies, including genome sequencing, to determine the variant of the bacteria responsible for the outbreak, according to official sources.
Two of the six deaths occurred at MKCG. The first death at this hospital was reported on June 13. Additionally, three children from Rayagada district are being treated in an isolation ward of the pediatric department at this hospital. “The condition of these children is good,” stated the MKCG MCH medical superintendent.
Department sources have revealed that medical teams have been dispatched to the affected areas for disease surveillance and vaccination efforts. They are collecting blood samples for testing and admitting suspected diphtheria patients to hospitals. Medical colleges in Bhawanipatna, Koraput, and Berhampur have been put on alert. A 5-bed special ward has been established at MKCG MCH for the treatment of diphtheria patients, according to a health department official.
The government is planning to conduct genome sequencing of the diphtheria cases and antibody tests on affected individuals. Due to the outbreak, three villages in Rayagada district have been declared contaminated zones by the administration to help control the disease. Diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection that affects the throat and upper airways.
On June 15, chief minister Mohan Majhi intervened in the situation, directing the health department and RMRC to investigate and determine the cause of the disease outbreak.
Suchitra Dash, the principal-cum-medical superintendent of MKCG MCH, reported that the boy, identified as Dipuna from Kumbhariput village in Koraput district’s Bandhugaon block, was admitted to the hospital in critical condition on June 17.He had been referred from SLN MCH, Koraput, and died on Wednesday night while treatment was going on.
Nilakantha Mishra, director of public health, health and family welfare department, mentioned that five cases had been reported from Rayagada district and the sixth one from Koraput district. “So far, we have identified 21 suspected diphtheria cases across three districts (15 from Rayagada, five from Kalahandi, and one from Koraput),” he added.
Mishra also stated that 10 samples have been confirmed as diphtheria positive. “We are awaiting the reports of 11 other cases. We are planning to conduct a vaccination drive in six districts, including the affected Rayagada, Kalahandi, and Koraput districts,” he further added.
An official team from the ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) collected samples from patients receiving treatment at MKCG MCH on Thursday. These samples were taken for further studies, including genome sequencing, to determine the variant of the bacteria responsible for the outbreak, according to official sources.
Two of the six deaths occurred at MKCG. The first death at this hospital was reported on June 13. Additionally, three children from Rayagada district are being treated in an isolation ward of the pediatric department at this hospital. “The condition of these children is good,” stated the MKCG MCH medical superintendent.
Department sources have revealed that medical teams have been dispatched to the affected areas for disease surveillance and vaccination efforts. They are collecting blood samples for testing and admitting suspected diphtheria patients to hospitals. Medical colleges in Bhawanipatna, Koraput, and Berhampur have been put on alert. A 5-bed special ward has been established at MKCG MCH for the treatment of diphtheria patients, according to a health department official.
The government is planning to conduct genome sequencing of the diphtheria cases and antibody tests on affected individuals. Due to the outbreak, three villages in Rayagada district have been declared contaminated zones by the administration to help control the disease. Diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection that affects the throat and upper airways.
On June 15, chief minister Mohan Majhi intervened in the situation, directing the health department and RMRC to investigate and determine the cause of the disease outbreak.
