90 die as cholera assumes epidemic in Rayagada, Koraput

Bhubaneswar, Aug 25 (UNI) Cholera has assumed an epidemic form in Kashipur block in Rayagada district and Dusmantpur block in Koraput district in South Orissa claiming more than 90 lives during the past three weeks while over two thousand tribals were admitted to various primary and community health centres with symptoms of diarrhoea and gastroenteritis in these two tribal districts.

Report reaching here today said over 55 people have died in Rayagada district alone as Cholera reported in 35 villages spread over 15 gram panchayats in Kashipur and Chandrapur blocks.

The disease has played havoc in Kashipur block which alone accounted for 45 deaths while ten people have died in Chandrapur block.

A report from Dusmantpur block in Koraput district said over 30 people have died in the block during the past one month due tothe outbreak of the disease. State Health Secretary Chinmaya Basu, who rushed to Kashipur yesterday to take stock of the situation, left for Dusmantpur following the outbreak of cholera there.

The Orissa government today rushed as many as 18 medical teams and 18 mobile health units to the affected areas. Doctors from the neighbouring districts were mobilised and sent to the affected villages to take all precautionary measures to bring the situation under control.

Panic gripped the entire Kashipur block as samples collected from the affected people confirmed the presence of 'vibro cholera' virus by the Microbiology department of MKCG Medical College and Hospital at Berhampur.

State Agriculture Minister S N Naik today airdashed to Kashipur to take stock of the situation while the district authority geared up all its machinery to tackle the situation.

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