Student dies of Diptheria in Malkangiri, medical team from Bhubaneswar collects swabs of other students

Apprehending the further spread of Diphtheria following the death of a student, a special medical team of the Health and Family Welfare Department's special medical team on Monday visited Malkangiri and collected the throat swabs of other students. 

The samples were collected from the students of Chitrangapalli and Tangaguda sevashramas and they have been sent for laboratory tests.

The move comes after several students from Chitrangpalli Upper Primary School and Tangaguda Residential School showed symptoms of diphtheria. Blood samples have been sent for testing and precautionary measures are in place to prevent the spread of the disease.

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The affected students have been admitted to Kalimela CHC and are being administered appropriate medications.

“A few students of Chitrangpalli Residential School were showing symptoms of diphtheria. Our surveillance is going on and we had collected throat samples of the students. Two of them have tested positive for diphtheria,” informed Tapas Kumar Patra, a member of the state medical team.

“We have admitted a few students who had symptoms to Kalimela CHC. 10 students are under observation now. One of them was referred to Koraput as his condition deteriorated. His condition is normal after treatment, and hopefully he will recover soon. Till now, the infection has not spread much. Our effort is to limit the spread of the infection and provide best of treatment to the students,” he added.

When contacted, Krishan Prasad Mandal, Headmaster of Chitrangpalli Residential School said, “One student tested positive for diphtheria and has been referred to Koraput Medical College and Hospital. Two other students have been discharged after recovery. A state medical team is here to enquire the health condition of other students and collect blood samples for lab testing. They have also prescribed necessary medicines.”