Bhubaneswar: In response to a diarrhoea outbreak affecting Jajpur and Keonjhar districts, Odisha's Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has instructed the health department to implement immediate actions to prevent further spread to adjacent areas.

As per the Chief Minister's Office, all healthcare facilities in the impacted regions are now on high alert.

The statement noted that neighbouring districts have been urged to stay vigilant. Disinfection of drinking water sources is underway in Jajpur, along with a temporary prohibition on street food sales and heightened food safety inspections.

The government has ensured a sufficient supply of medications and dispatched medical teams to manage the outbreak effectively.

Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling is actively overseeing the situation through regular consultations with medical personnel and administrative officials.

Additionally, a team from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has arrived in Odisha to support the state in controlling the outbreak.

As of now, seven fatalities have been reported in Jajpur district since the outbreak began on June 9, according to Additional District Medical Officer (ADMO) Prakash Chandra Bal.

Out of 1,750 individuals diagnosed with diarrhoea in the district, 1,500 have recovered, while approximately 250 are still receiving treatment, officials confirmed.

Director of Public Health Nilakantha Mishra stated that the situation remains critical, emphasizing that control will be achieved once no new patients are admitted to hospitals.

Compounding the issue, 11 diarrhoea patients have also tested positive for cholera, as reported by Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) Bijay Mishra.

A 14-member central team visited the district on Sunday to evaluate the situation on the ground. They toured hospitals treating diarrhoea patients and met with district officials.

Mahaling also visited various hospitals in Jajpur and Anandpur in Keonjhar, engaging with both patients and healthcare providers.

He expressed concern over the cholera cases detected in Jajpur, noting that a team from SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack has been deployed to assist in managing the crisis.

Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) teams are actively disinfecting drinking water sources, while food inspectors and disease surveillance teams are working diligently to control the outbreak.

Health workers, including ASHA and Anganwadi workers, have been provided with halogen tablets and ORS packets for distribution to the community.

Residents are being advised to take preventive measures, avoid consuming outside food, and maintain hygiene.

Diarrhoea cases have also emerged in parts of Cuttack district, Astaranga in Puri district, and Bhuban NAC in Dhenkanal district, according to officials.

In Gholapur village in Cuttack, over 50 individuals have been diagnosed with diarrhoea, while 20 cases have been reported in Astaranga, Puri.

Similarly, more than 30 individuals in Bhuban NAC are affected.

In light of the increasing diarrhoea cases, the Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) Department has instructed all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and district officials to implement immediate preventive measures.

Department principal secretary Usha Padhee has called for heightened vigilance and real-time monitoring to ensure the safety and sanitization of all water sources, particularly in vulnerable urban areas.

Meanwhile, BJD president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik has criticized the state government for its handling of the cholera outbreak.

He stated that cholera has escalated in Jajpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Puri, Cuttack, and Keonjhar, with indications that it is spreading to other districts.

On social media, Patnaik expressed, "The state government's lackadaisical approach to the cholera outbreak in Odisha is alarming and concerning to all."

He added, "Cholera poses a serious threat to lives. What was once rare is now disrupting life across various districts."

Patnaik claimed that 14 individuals have succumbed to the outbreak and extended his condolences to the grieving families.

He urged the state government to remain vigilant and take decisive, immediate actions to curb the disease's spread and safeguard public health.