Koraput: Following the deaths of five children aged between 6 and 15 years due to suspected diphtheria, and with the disease spreading to neighbouring Kalahandi and Koraput districts, the health department on Wednesday initiated a special vaccination drive in Rayagada district.
Officials said the special vaccination drive started at Munuspadar village under Kashipur block, where all the five deaths occurred.
“Surveillance was conducted at Munuspadar village, identified as the epicentre of disease, and the vaccination drive was launched there. Subsequently, the drive will be extended to other adjacent villages,” said Lal Mohan Routray, chief district medical and public health officer, Rayagada.
“The situation is under control as no new case has been reported in the past few days. Containment measures are being implemented at Munuspadar to minimise the spread of disease to neighbouring villages,” he added.
In view of the disease outbreak, Munuspadar, Kodkitunda and Jimurka villages in Rayagada district were declared containment zones. Besides these villages, vaccination will be conducted in 28 villages in Rayagada district.
All four patients, including a 61-year-old man, who were undergoing treatment at the district headquarters hospital in Rayagada, have been discharged. However, officials said four persons are still undergoing treatment in Kalahandi district.
Officials said the pentavalent vaccine is administered to children aged under one year, a single dose of diphtheria and tetanus (DPT) to children aged one to seven years, and tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccine to children above seven years.

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