Malkangiri: Unknown Disease Claims 5 Lives In 45 Days

Malkangiri: As many as 5 persons have died of an unknown disease in the last 45 days at Bhejanapalli village in the Padia block in Malkangiri. A majority of the residents in the village belong to the Koya tribe.

Fear grips the village as more than 10 persons have so far been infected with the life-threatening disease. As per reports, of them, 5 persons are critically ill while the rest have developed identical symptoms.

As of now, no medical team has reached the patients in Bhejanapalli village. Villagers have turned to witchcraft and sorcery to find a palpable cure for the disease.

Villagers said that the early symptoms of the contraction include unnatural swelling of the face, hands, legs and abdomen. Then the patient develops severe weakness and his food intake goes down drastically.

As per reports, elderly people are prone to this disease. People belonging to the age group of 40 or above are also developing symptoms.

Locals alleged that ASHA and Anganwadi workers are not taking the outbreak of the disease seriously. Without proper healthcare facilities, the villagers, who belong to the Koya tribe, have turned to quacks for a cure from the disease with no history of occurrence in the area.

Following an OTV report on the unknown killer disease, the Malkangiri Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) has assured to send a medical team to the village to carry out testing and availing treatment to the infected people.

(Edited By Debasish Panigrahi)

Also Read | Nikita Tomar Murder: Hindu Jagaran Manch Stages Protest In Bhubaneswar