Jaundice outbreak spreads panic in Cuttack

Cuttack: In less than a month after jaundice cases were reported in Jobra locality, several parts of Cuttack have now been plagued with the water-borne disease.

Kanika Chhak, Siddheswar Sahi, Mansingh Patna and Ramgarh areas of the Millennium City are now worst affected due to the water-borne disease.

Digging work for sewer lines has caused these pipeline leakages, alleged locals.

Laxmipriya Moharana of Siddheswar Sahi whose 12-year-old daughter has been diagnosed with jaundice said that children are often getting affected by the water-borne disease as the ongoing renovation work of the drainage and sewerage lines in the city undertaken by Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) has damaged the drinking water pipelines at several places leading to contamination.

"Last year, the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) officials had taken preventive measures owing to which the spread of the disease was curbed to some extent but nothing has been done so far in this regard this year," she said.

To deal with the situation, we have constituted three teams comprising four health workers, one Anganwadi worker and sanitation inspector. These teams are making door-to-door visits and also distributing water purifier tablets in the affected areas.

- said Cuttack Collector, Sushant Mohapatra.

"We have so far detected 23 cases of jaundice and all the affected are undergoing treatment. We are repairing the damaged pipelines on a war footing. We are also focusing on maintaining sanitation by ensuring hygiene and cleanliness in and around the affected localities," said CMC's health officer, Umesh Panigrahi.

Last year by March, over 130 cases of jaundice were detected in Cuttack.