Deaths in Odisha village: Health Dept confirms ‘no diarrhoea outbreak’

Panic had gripped Odapur village under the Dasamantapur block of Koraput district after reports of five sudden deaths emerged. However, health officials on Monday ruled out the presence of any unknown disease, attributing each death to separate, identifiable medical conditions.

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According to official sources, fear spread across Odapur village in the district following the deaths of five individuals, initially suspected to be due to an unknown illness. However, it has been ascertained that these fatalities are not caused by either diarrhoea or any other contagious outbreak.

Two individuals died due to food poisoning, while another succumbed to kidney-related complications. One fatality was reportedly due to internal injuries in the stomach, and the cause behind the fifth death is also unrelated to any communicable disease.

Dispelling rumours of a mysterious illness spreading in the region, the Additional District Medical Officer (ADMO) confirmed that the five deaths occurred due to isolated and non-epidemic causes.

Local MLA has already visited the village to assess the situation and assured villagers that there is no threat of an unknown disease. The administration continues to monitor health conditions in the village.

“Mostly those individuals who are affected, and out of the five reported cases, one patient had an internal blunt trauma in his stomach. Due to this ailment, the patient was admitted to SLN (Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College and Hospital) and he died there,” Koraput ADPHO, Dr. Siba Saiswarup, stated to mediapersons.

“Out of the two remaining patients, one had chronic kidney disease (CKD complications). They both had consumed spurious and country-made liquor, and the liquor samples have been sent for forensic verification,” the ADPHO expressed.

“We have been carrying out chlorination extensively in the village,” the ADPHO added.