Bolangir/Deogaon: Panic gripped the residents of Gambharimal village under Desand panchayat and Chatapipal village under Bandhapara panchayat in Deogaon block of Bolangir district after five persons reportedly died of malaria in last one month.
The matter came to the fore after two infants died July 20 and 22 respectively. The disease normally erupts after the onset of monsoon as result of water stagnating and creates havoc in several parts of the district.
This time around these two panchayats have been the worst affected. Five deaths have been reported due to malaria in the last one month, sources said.
A medical team from the district headquarters hospital led by Deogaon community health centre Dr Birendra Kumar Nayak, PHEO Laxman Meher and Dr Subasish Mohanty reached the villages and supervised the medication and treatment. They spread awareness among residents on how to deal with the outbreak.
Most of the fatalities occurred due to lack of proper treatment and shortage of medicines needed to treat malaria, sources said.
As per reports, Reena Gurandi (20) died June 21, Lita Gurandi (32) died June 27 and Tirtha Nagh (22) died June 29 respectively. Similarly, Amit (7), son of Debraj Chatabara died July 20 and Kailash (10), son of Akshay Majhi died July 22 respectively.
Meanwhile, reports suggested three to four minors were still under treatment at Bolangir district headquarters hospital.
Blood samples of 157 residents from Chatapipal village and 58 residents from Gambharimal village were collected for laboratory tests. Fortunately, no blood samples tested malaria positive from Chatapipal village while three from Gambharimal village tested positive, CDMO Dr Rabinarayan Tripathy said.
The medical team accused the locals of approaching quacks and local sorcerers for the treatment of the disease.
They spread awareness among locals to reach government hospitals and take necessary medicines for the prevention of the disease.
Meanwhile, a delegation of Congress workers reached the villages and took stock of the situation. PNN