Diarrhoea outbreak worsens in Jajpur: over 500 infected, death toll rises to four

Bhubaneswar, June 12: The diarrhoea outbreak in Odisha’s Jajpur district has taken an alarming turn, with over 500 people affected by the water-borne disease as of Thursday. The death toll has now risen to four, with two more fatalities reported in the morning.

The situation remains critical in the affected blocks of Dharmasala, Jajpur, Danagadi, Korei, and Rasulpur, where hospitals are struggling to manage the increasing number of patients exhibiting gastrointestinal symptoms. Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Dr. Prakash Chandra Bal confirmed that 134 patients are currently undergoing treatment at the District Headquarters Hospital, while more than 50 are being treated at community health centres in Jajpur Road and Dharmasala. Smaller numbers are also reported from Barchana, Korei, Danagadi, and Madhuban.

The latest victims include a 75-year-old woman from Mallapada and a 42-year-old from Baruan. Earlier, a 70-year-old man and a 34-year-old had succumbed to the illness. Around 20 critical cases have been shifted to SCB Medical College in Cuttack.

To strengthen medical response, the state government has deployed a three-member team of specialists to Dharmasala and Jajpur Road. The CDMO has requested additional medicine experts, anticipating that full control of the outbreak may take several more days.