Under control in Kalahandi

Expressbuzz, Sept 20, 2009

BHUBANESWAR: Cholera may have been controlled in Kalahandi but it is still fully on with its dreaded hybrid variant threatening to break loose. A surveillance study suggests that this killer bacteria is present in at least 13 districts of the State.


While Rayagada witnessed the scourge of cholera in 2007, Kalahandi recorded over two dozen fatalities last month. An ongoing study by Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) says it is endemic in Puri with the disease present round the year.

While RMRC has been carrying out surveillance on diarrhoea in Puri for the last 10 years, its study outcome says that the cholera bacteria has been found in most parts of the district. ‘‘Between 2002 and 2008, cholera incidence was detected each year,’’ said a senior scientist of RMRC while making a presentation at a consultation on ‘Water-borne diseases scenario in Orissa,’ here today.

While cholera incidence was based on reports collected from the ID Hospital in Puri, the RMRC also collected water samples from Pipili, Dandamukundapur, Mangalpur, Teisipur, Samajpur, Sakhigopal, Bira Harekrishnapur and Puri town, said the scientist.

Samples collected from various water sources led to presence of the cholera organism in a range of 14 per cent to 30 per cent. In most cases, the organism was found round the year, peaking during August, September and October.

Even as Puri is an endemic region, the bacteria travelled to other parts of the State in the meantime so much that it is now present in 13 districts, says the study. What’s alarming is the hybrid organism -- Vibrio Cholerae 01 Ogawa El Tor, responsible for the epidemic-like situation in Kashipur two years back, -- has been detected in many places.

While the cholera outbreak in tribal districts of Rayagada, Koraput and Kalahandi can be attributed to migration, the huge difference in fatalities caused by the killer organism is best explained by health services delivery system.

‘‘While villagers in Puri could seek medical attention as soon as diarhhoeal symptoms are noticed, the same cannot be said about tribal inhabitants of Kashipur or Thuamul Rampur,’’ said a health analyst.

Director of Health Services Dr Gopinath Mohalik said the Government had been able to arrest the disease in Kalahandi in a short period but the challenge is in the inaccessible and hard-to-reach pockets of the tribal districts.