Cholera outbreak: Central team reviews situation in Rourkela

A multi-disciplinary Central team arrived at Rourkela to take stock of the situation after the outbreak of cholera. The disease has reportedly claimed 15 lives in the Steel City against the official toll of 9. 

As per reports, two members of a five-member expert team visited the Rourkela Government Hospital (RGH) and held discussions with senior doctors and other staff of the hospital about the reasons for the spread of cholera. The team will also support the state government in implementing requisite public health measures. 

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The Central team comprised Dr. Aloke Chakrabarty (Scientist, National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata), Dr. Itashini Ranjan Mohanty (Professor, Department of Internal Medicine of  AIIMS- Bhubaneswar), Dr. N M Somalkar (Regional Director, Regional Office for Health and  Family Welfare, MoHFW, Bhubaneswar), Dr. Sumanto Pal, Public Health Specialist, All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Kolkata)  and Dr. Irum Tabassum (Consultant-Microbiologist, National Centre for Disease Control, Delhi). 

The team has been asked to assess the situation, suggest remedial measures, and report every evening on the public health activities that are being undertaken in Rourkela. The Central team will be coordinated by the Regional Director IIFW, Bhubaneswar (Ministry of Health & Family Welfare).