Nabarangpur: Three people have succumbed to diarrhoea and several have fallen ill in the Nandahandi block of Odisha’s Nabarangpur village during the last three days. All the deaths have been reported from Jaksenaguda village in the district.
As the disease spread in the region, the Health Department dispatched a team to the village. Two patients are currently undergoing treatment at the Nabarangpur District Headquarters Hospital (DHH).
Nabarangpur District Additional Medical Officer (ADMO) Naba Kishore Behera said diarrhoea spread in the area as people are drinking contaminated water in the absence of the piped water supply under the Vasudha Yojana.
While a 17-year-old girl of Amanatya from Dambu died on Friday while undergoing treatment at the DHH, Jagabandhu Naik’s 25-year-old son Narsingh Naik and 70-year-old Tulsa Amanatya died more recently.
According to Naba Kishore Behra, most of the patients are suffering from vomiting and loose motion. They have been asked to eat well and consume warm water. “We have also collected and sent water and rectal swab samples for testing,” he said.
The Health officer further said, “It is unfortunate that the people in these villages rely more on sorcerers and other traditional medical practitioners rather than being treated at the DHH. Their superstitions have made the situation more critical.”
