TV
The cholera outbreak in Jajpur district has worsened over the weekend, with the death toll rising to seven and more than 1,500 people reported ill due to acute diarrhoea disease. Reportedly, the outbreak, which began earlier this month, has now spread to neighbouring districts, prompting a statewide high alert.
Sources reported that the condition remains grim in Jajpur district, where hundreds of patients continue to be admitted daily at government hospitals in Dharmasala, Badachana, Rasulpur, and Jajpur town.
Health department sources informed that two more patients undergoing treatment succumbed to the infection on Sunday morning, taking the official toll to seven.
Reports stated that to contain the disease, the administration has shut down hotels, eateries, fast-food stalls, meat shops and water packaging units in Jajpur and Bari for two weeks. Community gatherings, including weddings, birthdays, religious rituals, and feasts, have also been discouraged.
Outbreak Spills into Bhadrak, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar and Cuttack
In an alarming situation, recent reports suggest that the outbreak is now gradually spreading to nearby districts.
In the Bhuban block of Dhenkanal, 50 people have reportedly been hospitalised across various panchayats with similar symptoms. Similarly, in Gholapur village of Banki in Cuttack district, over 40 people have been infected in just two days.
The outbreak is also worsening in the Anandapur subdivision of Keonjhar, with health officials reporting a steady rise in infections.
In Bhadrak, health surveillance has been intensified after confirmed cholera cases were detected in stool samples sent for testing alongside those from Jajpur. Meanwhile, medical teams are conducting door-to-door visits, providing treatment and collecting water samples for lab testing in other districts.
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Central Team Arrives, State on High Alert
A multi-agency Central team comprising experts from ICMR, NCDC, WHO, and FSSAI is in Odisha to assess the outbreak. The team will be joined by the state’s Director of Public Health and Health Services and will conduct a field review in the worst-hit areas of Jajpur.
All health facilities in affected districts have been placed on high alert, and the Chief Minister has directed district medical officers and senior administrators to scale up containment efforts.
To prevent further escalation during the Raja festival, the district administration has banned the consumption of festive food and other potentially contaminated foods. Vigilance has also increased to ensure restrictions are strictly enforced, with legal action threatened for violations.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, health officials have stated that a significant number of patients are responding well to treatment, and that recovery rates are improving in several pockets.
