The outbreak of diarrhoea in Rourkela has claimed the lives of six people so far while 20 others are still serious in the Steel City, informed Odisha Public Health Director, Niranjan Mishra.
As per reports, the Health Department has deployed six Rapid Action teams to deal with diarrhoea cases. Four faculty members from Sundargarh Hospital, four junior doctors from the CDMO, 12 staff nurses and two technicians have been deputed to the Steel City.
The District Collector has reviewed the situation and has kept stock of the medicines available in the hospitals. As this is a water-borne disease, the Collector has urged the WATCO to increase the amount of chlorine in the water supply.
Speaking about the current status of the hospitals and patients, Niranjan Mishra said, “About 595 persons have been affected till now. Out of that 343 patients were admitted to hospital. As many as 145 patients have been cured and discharged from hospital while 162 patients are currently under treatment at various hospitals across the State. Rourkela Government Hospital (RGH) has the maximum number of diarrhoea patients (102).”
“Around 20 patients at the RGH are seriously ill. The Hi-Tech hospital and the Ispat General Hospital (IGH) have been informed. They will accommodate patients in their ICUs if needed,” Mishra said.
“Six mobile medical units are working in Rourkela to aware people and treat new patients. They are sending seriously ill patients to the hospital too,” he added.
Patients suffering from diarrhoea started arriving at the RGH on December 10 and the number of patients kept rising over the next few days.
The increase in number of diarrhoea patients in the city has raised serious concern. As many as five places in the city have become hotspots for the infective disease. Those places are Daily Market, Nala Road, Kishan Tola and Udit Nagar.