TV
Adding to the ongoing waterborne health crisis in Odisha, a severe outbreak of diarrhoea in Hirlipali village under Attabira block of Bargarh district has sparked fear among locals, with over 60 people taken ill in the past few days.
To manage the situation, authorities have set up an emergency medical camp in the village in view of the rising number of patients, as health teams scramble to contain the situation.
As per the latest reports, health officials confirmed that seven patients were in critical condition and were referred to VIMSAR, Burla. Four of them have since been discharged after recovery, while three remain under treatment. Meanwhile, seven new cases were reported on Wednesday alone, intensifying public concern.
Doctors have been deployed for round-the-clock monitoring, and medicines are being distributed from the temporary camp. Teams are also conducting door-to-door visits to identify fresh cases and provide immediate care.
Contaminated Water Suspected, Cause Yet to Be Confirmed
The outbreak is suspected to be linked to contaminated drinking water, though the precise cause remains unconfirmed.
“Water samples have been collected from the village and sent for testing. We are awaiting the results to determine the source of the infection,” said a senior health official.
Sanitation and hygiene awareness drives have also been launched in the area. Residents have been advised to consume only boiled or filtered water and maintain cleanliness to prevent further spread.
State Sees Rising Diarrhoea Cases
The outbreak in Bargarh adds to a growing public health concern across Odisha. Earlier this week, similar diarrhoea cases were reported from the Digapahandi block in Ganjam district, following earlier spikes in Jajpur and Bhadrak.
In Digapahandi, numerous residents of the S. Tikarapada panchayat were hospitalised amid allegations of two deaths, though officials have not confirmed fatalities linked directly to the disease. Medical and RWSS teams were deployed promptly, with water samples sent for lab testing and awareness measures rolled out.
