Odisha Government Issues Urgent Alert Amid Rising Diarrhoea Cases
Government Response to Diarrhoea Outbreak
In response to a surge in diarrhoea cases across various districts, the Odisha government has issued a critical alert to all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) as of Sunday. The directive emphasizes the need for immediate preventive actions and effective responses.
The Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) Department has circulated an urgent advisory, urging ULBs and district officials to enhance monitoring efforts, sanitize water sources, and collaborate closely with health teams to manage the outbreak effectively.
Usha Padhee, the Principal Secretary of the H&UD Department, has called for increased vigilance and real-time monitoring to ensure the safety and cleanliness of water sources, particularly in at-risk urban areas.
District senior officers have been tasked with staying actively involved in the situation and promptly reporting any emerging clusters or unusual patterns of illness.
Padhee stressed the importance of swift action to protect communities and curb the spread of the disease, highlighting the necessity for a coordinated response with the Health and Family Welfare Department.
The government has mandated immediate inspections and sanitization of drinking water sources, along with the identification and rapid response to potential hotspots.
ULBs are required to work closely with Health Department teams, ensuring that field staff are well-informed and promoting community awareness regarding hygiene practices.
Additionally, the department is facilitating emergency water quality testing, ramping up sanitation efforts, and launching public awareness campaigns to prevent further outbreaks, especially with the monsoon season approaching.
Residents are advised to stay vigilant, consume only safe drinking water, and report any symptoms to the nearest health facility or urban health officials without delay.
In a related development, a seven-member health team and a three-member food safety team arrived in Odisha on Saturday, following directives from the Director General of Health Services under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Moreover, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has sent a specialized four-member food quality team to assist.
These teams visited affected areas in Jajpur district and hospitals treating diarrhoea patients to evaluate the situation and provide recommendations to local officials, as well as to both state and central governments regarding the outbreak's causes and prevention strategies.
Odisha's Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling also visited the impacted areas and hospitals in Jajpur to assess the situation firsthand.
Currently, four fatalities have been reported, with over 1,000 individuals affected by diarrhoea in Jajpur district alone. However, authorities have indicated that the situation is improving, with a noticeable decline in new patient cases over the past two days.