After dengue, diarrhoea has been reported in some parts of Ganjam district. One person, Ramesh Pradhan (41) of Gothogaon died on Thursday evening and 50 others have been affected in Patrapur block on Wednesday. The disease has also taken roots in around 22 other villages.
During August, two children had died and over 60 persons were affected in Turubudi panchayat of the block. Though the health officials initiated necessary measures to check the disease it reappeared in Kelua village under Padadigi panchayat on Tuesday.
According to Samiti member Pradip Pradhan, the disease spread from consumption of contaminated water supplied in Kelua village and before any medical team could reach, it spread to nearby villages of Padadigi, Gothogaon, Narayanapur and Ghadeigaon.
Epidemiologist Dr S. Rout and DSMO A. Tripathy with a team of doctors visited the affected villages and advised the residents to consume boiled water. The team also disinfected water sources in the villages.
Four doctors are camping at Patrapur hospital and taking care of the patients at the hospital.
In some places where shifting the affected people to hospitals is not possible due to absence of transportation, the health staff are treating them in their homes.
The district health office sources said a team with necessary medicines has left for the affected villages.