Bhubaneswar: The jaundice scare at Utkal University has taken a disturbing turn with a dead frog leg allegedly found in a chilli-soya bean dish served at Girls’ Hostel No. 7 Tuesday night.
The incident has sparked fresh concerns over food safety and hygiene on the campus, as 12 out of 19 blood samples of students have already tested positive for Hepatitis A.
More than 50 additional blood samples were collected from students for testing to identify suspected cases and assess the extent of the outbreak.
The outbreak first came to light after two students residing at Girls’ Hostel No. 7 were diagnosed with jaundice and admitted to private hospitals in Bhubaneswar.
Their health conditions have reportedly improved.
Subsequently, several other students complained of illness, including vomiting and diarrhoea.
Health officials suspect that contaminated food or drinking water may have triggered the outbreak, although the exact source of infection is yet to be established.
Water samples collected from different locations on the campus, along with food samples from hostel kitchens and canteens, have been sent for laboratory examination.
Meanwhile, the university administration, in coordination with the BMC and health authorities, has stepped up precautionary measures to prevent further spread of the infection.
University Vice-Chancellor Chandi Prasad Panda said the university is undertaking efforts to revamp and modernise its infrastructure and overall functioning to create a better academic environment for students.
