Bhubaneswar, June 17(OT Webdesk): Odisha is in the grip of a growing cholera and diarrhoea outbreak, with six districts—Jajpur, Keonjhar, Cuttack, Kendrapada, Bhadrak, and Dhenkanal—reporting confirmed cases.
Jajpur has emerged as the epicentre, logging seven deaths and over 260 patients undergoing treatment for acute symptoms.
Water and stool samples from Jajpur tested positive for Vibrio cholerae, the bacterium responsible for the disease, prompting the closure of food establishments in high-risk zones like Binjharpur, Vyasanagar, Dharmasala, and Bari for two weeks.
A fresh cluster has also emerged in Sundari village, Cuttack district, where 15 people were hospitalised.
Rapid response teams have intensified surveillance and water-quality monitoring across all affected districts to curb the spread.
Health Secretary Aswathy S. visited the worst-hit areas in Jajpur, reviewing containment strategies with local authorities.
Citizens have been strongly urged to avoid street food, drink only boiled or purified water, and seek medical attention at the first signs of symptoms like vomiting, loose motion, or fever.
Officials warn that the situation could escalate statewide if contamination sources remain unaddressed, even as emergency measures are rolled out, including enhanced hospital preparedness and mobile health units.
