Seventy four tribal people have died and another 1800 are ailing for the past two weeks due to a cholera outbreak in Orissas Rayagada and Kalahandi Districts.
By Sarada Lahangir
Bhubaneshwar, Aug. 27 : Seventy four tribal people have died and another 1800 are ailing for the past two weeks due to a cholera outbreak in Orissa's Rayagada and Kalahandi Districts.
According to the sources close to the Director Health Services in Orissa, the death toll in the Rayagada district is 48 and in the Kalahandi districts the figure has risen to 26.
The authorities claim to be taking measures to curb the disease.
On Monday, the government authorities issued a warning about the epidemic reaching serious proportions.
The authorities say the outbreak of the epidemic is attributed to the people drinking polluted water and eating contaminated meat after the floodwater receded.
Dr. P Sitaram, a senior health official in Berhampore, said that they have taken every possible action to take care to control the situation.
He said: "The situation is not fully under control although we are giving medicines to victims, the outbreak is slowly reaching epidemic proportions. Many tribals here drink water from dirty ponds and drains and eat contaminated meat from carcasses, making them vulnerable to diseases like cholera."Several health workers are supplying drinking water and food to thousands of villagers in Rayagada District since they are starving for proper food.
Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said: "We have sent many teams to take care of the situation and will be taking every possible step to fight for the disease."
Gurubari, a relative of a patient from Tihiripada Village, said: "Since last night, she was suffering from diarrhoea. She complained pain at about 10 p.m after dinner. We brought her to the hospital. Even after 25 saline bottles given to her, the condition did not improve. So we had to bring her to the District Hospital. The doctor says her condition is fine now."
Devhani, another villager complained of having severe stomach ache and vomiting.
Orissa has been affected by monsoon floods in several districts.
Cholera is transmitted by ingesting contaminated water or food. Symptoms include those of general GI tract (stomach) upset and massive watery diarrhoea. Symptoms may also include terrible muscle and stomach cramps, vomiting and fever in early stages. In a later stage the diarrhoea becomes "rice water stool" (almost clear with flecks of white).
ANI