Gastroenteritis claims 5 lives in Rayagada;200 affected

Jeypore, Aug 23 (UNI) As many as five tribals have died and more than 200 affected with gastroenteritis in the Kashipur area of Rayagada district during the past three days.

Acute gastroenteritis was first reported from Kashipur and later people from Gadivali,Bandhmandi,Mandibisi,Bahapadamali, Mastibisi, Pondpora, Taljhari, Talpadikhal, Nuagam,Dongasing Koral, Dangsil, Manush and Bendlapas complained of diarrhoea and vomiting.

So far, about 200 tribals had been treated in health centres in Kashipur block of whom the condition of 40 was stated to be critical.

Official sources here said that medical teams had already been rushed to different locations and preventive measures were being taken to check spread of the disease to other pockets.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Congress leaders, led by its state unit president Jayadev Jena, visited some affected villages yesterday and asked the government to take immediate steps to contain the disease.

Significantly, only one doctor is posted in Kashipur PHC and he has to look after over 10,000 tribals.

UNI