TV
An outbreak of jaundice in Dandasahi village under Biridi block of Jagatsinghpur has sparked panic. Over 50 people have fallen ill within five days, with the health officials suspecting contaminated water as the cause, sources said on Sunday.
Surprisingly, locals opt for traditional remedies over medical treatment.
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According to sources, fear has gripped Dandasahi village in the district as jaundice outbreak allegedly infected more than 50 people in just five days. The sudden spike in cases is believed to be linked to the consumption of impure and unsafe drinking water.
The affected village falls under Biridi block, where residents are showing symptoms of jaundice such as yellowing eyes, fatigue, and nausea. Despite the growing number of patients, many villagers are skipping proper medical care and travelling instead to Salepur to seek healing from traditional practitioners.
Health department teams and a four-member RWSS (Rural Water Supply & Sanitation) unit have reached the village to assess the situation. Officials are collecting water samples for laboratory testing and have already begun sanitising local tubewells.
However, the exact cause of the outbreak remains unclear. Officials are yet to confirm whether contaminated water is the sole factor, though it is currently the primary suspicion. In the meantime, the lack of health awareness has driven many to rely on folk healing practices, raising serious concerns among health authorities.
The district administration has urged residents to avoid untreated water and seek immediate medical help if symptoms appear. Awareness campaigns and water purification efforts are expected to intensify in the coming days.
“Even medical reports did not reflect any diagnosed disease. When we went to Salepur for Jhadaphunka (a typical traditional practice), jaundice was ‘detected’. There is no provision of pure drinking water here,” a woman resident, Madhusmita Bhoi, stated to OTV.
“Under the influence of blind belief, some people have gone to Salepur for a cure. We have repeatedly created awareness among the residents against this since July 27, advising them not to rely on sorcerers and traditional methods of treatment,” Purana sarpanch, Yudhisthir Behera expressed when contacted.
Reported By: Manas
