Kendrapada: More than 40 people have been hospitalised following a gastroenteritis outbreak in several villages in Aali block of Odisha’s Kendrapada district, prompting the health department to step up surveillance and containment measures.
So far, 44 affected patients from Lokapada, Chandiagadi, Giribandha, Padanapur and Demala villages have been admitted to the community health centre (CHC) at Aul, with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramps and weakness, officials said.
A medical team from the district headquarters hospital has collected water and stool samples and sent them for laboratory testing in Cuttack to ascertain the cause of the outbreak, they said.
Additional District Medical Officer Shyamasundar Tudu said health workers are conducting door-to-door visits, distributing ORS packets and advising residents to drink boiled water and maintain hygiene.
The situation is under control and under close surveillance, he said.
Health officials suspect consumption of contaminated drinking water from uncovered wells and storage tanks may have triggered the outbreak.
Local health authorities said adequate stocks of medicines are available, and preventive measures have been intensified in the affected villages.
