Junagarh: Panic gripped the residents after 24 persons including 20 from Baldhiamal village under this block in Kalahandi district were affected by diarrhoea Sunday.
Family members admitted the affected persons to the Junagarh community health centre (CHC) after they failed to respond to traditional treatment. Their health condition improved after treatment. One of them, whose condition was critical, was shifted to the district headquarters hospital in Bhawanipatna. Among the sick are 14 women.
However, the actual reason behind the spread of the disease is yet to be ascertained. While 20 of the affected persons were from Baldhiamal, remaining were from an adjoining village.
Residents suspect that pollution in the drinking water supplied to them from overhead water tank by the rural water supply and sanitation department might have led to the spread of the disease.
When contacted, Gupta Nayak, junior engineer of rural water supply and sanitation, said an examination of the water from the overhead tank at Bhawanipatna laboratory has come out negative.
Medical officer Dr Bhagaban Panda said the reason behind the outbreak of the disease could be ascertained after the report on the examination of the stool samples of the affected persons is available to us.
PNN
