Diarrhoea Outbreak in Ganjam District Claims Lives and Hospitalizes Residents
Health Crisis in Dampur Village
A serious diarrhoea outbreak has struck Dampur village, located in the T Gobindpur panchayat of the Sanakhemundi block in Ganjam district, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and hospitalizing over ten others in just two days.
Local reports indicate that two elderly men, Sambaru Mallik, aged 60, and Kandara Mallik, aged 62, succumbed to the illness on Tuesday afternoon after receiving treatment at a nearby private clinic. Additionally, another elderly woman, Shukuri Mallik, has been transferred to MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur due to her critical condition.
More than ten other villagers are currently receiving treatment for diarrhoea-related issues at various healthcare facilities.
Bahan Das, the chief medical officer (CDMO) of Adapada Community Health Centre (CHC), stated that he had not yet received any formal report regarding the outbreak. However, he committed to collaborating with local health workers to assess the situation and gather further information.
In a related incident, five residents from Fasiguda village in the Digapahandi block have been hospitalized since Saturday with similar symptoms. The affected individuals—Kashi Nayak, Subuddhi Pradhan, Simanchala Mandal, Lagna Biswal, and Jadi Nayak from the Nuasahi locality—were initially treated at the Digapahandi CHC before being referred to MKCG Medical College and Hospital due to the severity of their conditions.
Previously, a diarrhoea outbreak was reported in Ustapalli village, located in the tribal-dominated Sahadeb Tikarpada panchayat, where three deaths were claimed. However, the health administration of Ganjam district officially denied any fatalities.
In response to the confirmed outbreak in Fasiguda, the health administration of the Digapahandi block has implemented emergency measures. A mobile medical team has been dispatched to the village to conduct door-to-door visits, raise awareness, and distribute preventive medications.
Additionally, personnel from the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) department have begun collecting water samples for testing and are undertaking urgent repairs and disinfection of the village's tube wells.
Local officials, including block vice chairperson Sukanti Pradhan, her representative Nakula Pradhan, sarpanch Gauri Bisoyi, and sarpanch representative Shibaram Pradhan, are actively participating in the response efforts by conducting awareness drives in collaboration with health workers.
The Health department is closely monitoring the situation and has urged residents to take all necessary precautions.