Times of India, Aug 24, 2007
BHUBANESWAR: At least 43 people have died of diarrhoea which broke out in epidemic form in Kashipur block of Orissa's tribal-dominated Rayagada district, health department sources said on Friday.
"Death toll due to diarrhoea that broke out last month has mounted to 43 in Kashipur block while more than 50 patients are undergoing treatment at different hospitals," Additional District Medical Officer Benudhar Nayak said.
Health Secretary Chinmay Basu, alongwith 12 medical teams, rushed to Kashipur block where diarrhoea had assumed epidemic form, sources said.
The 12 medical teams had already reached the affected area and the Health Secretary is also monitoring the situation at Kashipur, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said.
Eight mobile health units were going round villages in Kashipur area and six more such units were expected to reach the affected area from neighbouring Balangir district, sources said. The disease surveillance cell has been monitoring the situation round the clock, an official said.
"The deceased were mostly tribals who were reluctant to take medicines being provided by the government," sources claimed Consumption of contaminated water and food by the people was suspected to have led to the epidemic, Health department sources said.
A team from the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) has collected urine, blood, stool and food samples from over half a dozen villages of the area.
Meanwhile, a report from Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi district said diarrhoea had claimed several lives in tribal-dominated Thuamul Rampur block of the district. While local MLA Puspendra Singhdeo put the death toll due to diarrhoea at 32, the government confirmed only three diarrhoea deaths in Kalahandi district.
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