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Time of India
03-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Disinfection drive from today to check disease spread
Bhubaneswar: With over 190 active diarrhoea cases under treatment and strict vigilance on the rising dengue and malaria situation, the state govt on Thursday announced a special disinfection drive to curb the spread of water-borne and vector-borne diseases. The drive, a joint effort of the health and family welfare department and the panchayati raj and drinking water department, will be carried out in two phases on July 4 and July 11. A detailed action plan was finalised at a high-level meeting chaired by Health Secretary Aswathy S. "During the campaign, super chlorination of drinking water sources, and proper cleaning and disinfection of health facilities, educational institutions, marketplaces, and other public places will be undertaken," said the health and family welfare department in an official statement. Village and household-level awareness campaigns will be conducted through ASHA and ANM workers. They will demonstrate the use of halazone tablets, long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs), handwashing, and other hygienic practices. Food safety officers have been directed to intensify inspections of bottling plants, eateries, and hotels, ensure strict adherence to food safety standard operating procedures, and take immediate corrective action, including financial penalties if required. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Em 2025 o preço deste alarme está a conquistar milhares de portugueses Securitas Direct Alarme Solicite orçamento Undo Chief district medical and public health officers (CDMPHOs) have been asked to tour affected areas during the drive days to ensure on-ground action. They will deploy the state's 377 rapid response teams to affected pockets for immediate intervention and monitoring, an official from the health department said. The health department has also asked CDMPHOs to maintain adequate stock of anti-venom for snake bites in govt hospitals and ensure the placement of MBBS doctors, especially in flood-prone areas. Emphasis has been laid on intensifying laboratory surveillance, increasing the collection and testing of samples, and strict adherence to daily, weekly, and quarterly monitoring protocols. Senior officers and state-level teams will visit affected areas for close monitoring and supervision of field-level activities. "Strict vigilance is being kept on the dengue and malaria situation," said Nilakantha Mishra, the state's director of public health.
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Health team sent to flood-hit blocks in Balasore
1 2 Bhubaneswar: In view of flooding in low-lying areas of Balasore district, the govt on Tuesday sent a health team to take stock of the situation. "The team will visit Basta and Baliapal blocks and nearby areas," said director of public health Nilakantha Mishra here on Tuesday. Mishra said bleaching powder, halogen tablets and anti-snake venom serums have been supplied to flood-prone districts. "If needed, more health teams will be sent to Balasore and other districts. We are keeping an eye on the flood situation in Balasore and adjoining Mayurbhanj district," he added. He said they have already directed officials to prepare for possible flood in some parts of the state. "They will map the places where floodwater enters. Officials will ensure an adequate stock of drugs. A control room will be opened in the flood-affected areas. Rapid response teams will be on alert to address health-related issues," he added. "We have not received information about any water-borne disease in flood-affected areas so far. We are in constant touch with chief district medical and public health officers of Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts. We are keeping a strict vigil on the situation," said Mishra. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo He said essential medicines are stored in hospitals for immediate use. "The diarrhoea and cholera situation in six districts, including Jajpur, has improved a lot. We are also conducting a diarrhoea awareness drive across the state, including in flood-prone areas," he added. "There is a possibility that floodwater mixed with sewage may enter many homes in low-lying flood-affected areas. After the water recedes, people may suffer from different water-borne diseases like diarrhoea, dysentery and other gastrointestinal problems due to water contamination," said a senior health official. Snakebites are also reported from flooded areas. "People also get typhoid, hepatitis and other bacterial infections due to contamination of water sources. People can boil water and drink it to prevent such diseases. They should keep watch on movement of snakes near their houses," he added. The health department is also keeping an eye on spread of vector-borne diseases like dengue and malaria. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
New Indian Express
16-06-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Gastro spreads to five more districts, minister visits Jajpur
BHUBANESWAR/JAJPUR: With fresh cluster outbreaks reported from five more districts, the diarrhoea and cholera situation in Odisha continued to remain grim for the sixth consecutive day on Sunday. In addition to the severely-affected Jajpur district where 11 samples have tested positive for Vibrio cholerae, hundreds of cases have been reported from Keonjhar, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Bargarh, Puri, Dhenkanal and Kendrapara. Contaminated food and water are suspected to be the primary cause behind the spike in infections, prompting urgent field visits and high-level reviews by both state and central health authorities. While 15 persons have died so far and over 2,000 affected in the clusters, the state government confirmed the death of five persons and 1,771 hospitalisations due to diarrhoea. Director of public health Dr Nilakantha Mishra said, of them, 1,508 patients have been discharged after recovery, while 258 are currently undergoing treatment. 'Five diarrhoea-related deaths have been confirmed through clinical investigations, and inquiries are ongoing into five other suspected fatalities,' he said. A 14-member central team, divided into two groups, visited the worst-hit Jajpur district while Health minister Mukesh Mahaling undertook a field inspection of affected areas in Anandpur sub-division of Keonjhar, and Badachana, Dharmasala and Jajpur Road in Jajpur district.
Hans India
16-06-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Two more persons die of diarrhoea
Bhubaneswar: Two more persons died of diarrhoea in Jajpur district, with over 200 people still undergoing treatment, officials said on Sunday. With this, seven persons have died in the outbreak, which was first reported on June 9, Additional District Medical Officer (ADMO) Prakash Chandra Bal said. Over 1,500 people were diagnosed with diarrhoea in the district, and 1,300 of them have recovered, officials said. 'The situation is yet to be brought under control. When no new patients are admitted to the hospital, we will be able to control it,' Director of Public Health Nilakantha Mishra said. Adding to the worries, 11 diarrhoea patients were found positive for cholera, Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Bijay Mishra said. Samples of 21 of the around 200 people at present undergoing treatment were sent for cholera testing, he said. Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) teams are disinfecting drinking water sources in the district, while food inspectors and disease surveillance teams are also working to bring the situation under control, officials said. ASHA and Anganwadi workers and health workers have been supplied with halogen tablets and ORS packets for distribution among the people. People have been advised to take all precautionary measures, avoid eating food outside and adhere to hygienic practices. Diarrhoea cases have also been detected in parts of Cuttack district and Astaranga in Puri district. Over 30 people were diagnosed with diarrhoea at Gholapur village in Cuttack, and 20 people were affected in Astaranga. Medical teams have been sent to those areas to tackle the situation.
Hindustan Times
15-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Central team visits Odisha as 14 deaths reported in cholera outbreak
Bhubaneswar: A central team from Delhi, comprising officials from Indian Council of Medical Research, National Centre for Disease Control, World Health Organisation, and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India on Sunday visited Jajpur district of Odisha as 14 deaths were reported and 1,500 people were hospitalised following a cholera outbreak. Four blocks and one urban local body in Jajpur district have been hit most by the outbreak which started from a community feast in the town attended by over 2,500 people. 'Out of the 41 faecal samples sent to the laboratory from Jajpur district, eight tested positive for Vibrio cholerae. However, the number of affected persons is being slowly decreasing,' said Nilakantha Mishra, director of Odisha's public health. Officials said most of the affected are showing acute diarrhoeal disorders with many of them showing dehydration tendencies. The worst-affected areas in Jajpur include Danagadi, Korei, Rasulpur and Dharmasala blocks, with many requiring advanced care at facilities like SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. State health minister Mukesh Mahaling said those in hospitals are doing fine. 'We have deployed an additional health team from SCB Medical College and Hospital to support the efforts here. We're taking every measure to prevent further outbreaks. I appeal people to seek medical attention immediately if they experience symptoms such as loose motion, vomiting, or abdominal pain, rather than consulting local quacks or medicine stores. Cholera outbreak is a major concern, and we need to take collective efforts to prevent its spread,' he said. Meanwhile, leader of Opposition and former chief minister Naveen Patnaik said the state government must act vigilantly without pushing people's lives into further danger and take immediate strong measures to curb the spread of cholera. 'What had not been seen for many years has now disrupted public life in various districts. While cholera is spreading in Odisha, the state government's casual approach to it is shocking and disturbing to everyone,' he wrote on X. Odisha last saw a cholera outbreak in December 2023 in Rourkela town where 11 people died and more than 1,800 were hospitalised. Similarly, in Rayagada district, an outbreak was reported between July and November 2022, with 10 deaths and 414 cases. Cholera has consistently made its presence known in Odisha over the past two and a half decades, this persistent occurrence marks it as a significant public health issue, particularly affecting the lower socio-economic groups in the southern regions of Odisha. Between 2011 and 2020, Odisha had 19 outbreaks of cholera. Districts such as Rayagada, Koraput, Kalahandi, and Nuapada are particularly susceptible, making cholera a prominent and pressing concern for public health authorities in the region. As a significant proportion of the human population in these cholera-prone areas relies on untreated water from environmental reservoirs, such as ponds, rivers, wells, nullahs, and ditches, for drinking, bathing, cooking, and agricultural activities, the widespread practice of using contaminated water sources serves as a major cause for the transmission of cholera infection. Despite efforts to raise awareness and education regarding the importance of safe water practices and the prevention of diarrheal diseases, cholera outbreaks continue to occur in Odisha.
