Kendrapara: Panic gripped the residents of Sabarpada, a village under Mahakalapara block in this district, after 25 children were found affected by an undiagnosed fever over a week.
This has come at a time when the terrible Japanese encephalitis (JE) is fast spreading its tentacles in Malkangiri district and has claimed the lives of over 56 kids in the district in the last 38 days.
Residents apprehend that if the disease turns out to be JE then things might go out of control. The kids were afflicted with the disease over last one week. Besides, about 10-12 adults of the village are also suspected to be suffering from the same disease.
According to Dr Manoj Kumar Panda, the in-charge medical officer of Mahakalapada community health centre (CHC), a team of para-medical staff has been sent to the village to take stock of the situation.
The team collected blood samples from patients and sent them for laboratory test. Whether it is a viral fever or malaria or any other disease, can be confirmed only after the blood test report is available, Panda said.
“We are keeping a close watch on the prevailing situation. If the situation demands, I will inform the chief district medical officer to send a medical team to the village to provide treatment to the sick children,” the doctor said. PNN
