Bhubaneswar: The death toll due to diphtheria rose to six in Odisha after one more death was reported from MKCG Medical College and Hospital.
As many as four persons including a minor boy were undergoing treatment after being diagnosed with diphtheria. However, the minor boy’s condition was critical. He died while undergoing treatment on Thursday, informed Superintendent of MKCG Medical College and Hospital Suchitra Das.
The deceased was from Bandhugaon village in Koraput district.
It is pertinent to note that earlier five children died of the disease.
Meanwhile, the Odisha government on Wednesday launched a special vaccination drive in Rayagada district to contain the diphtheria outbreak, especially in the Kasipur area which witnessed the death of five children.
As the outbreak has spread to the neighbouring districts of Kalahandi and Koraput, the Health and Family Welfare Department has asked district administrations to take preventive measures to contain the disease from further spreading.
As per the measures, kids under one year will be given the pentavalent vaccines while children aged between one and seven will be administered single-dose diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and tetanus (DPT) vaccines. Besides, children above seven years will be administered tetanus and Diphtheria (TD) doses.
