CUTTACK: After jaundice, gastroenteritis scare is looming over rural pockets of Cuttack district.
As many as 10 persons of Purusottampur, Sagara, Jamadeipur and Kakudia villages under Narasinghpur block were hospitalised with gastroenteritis on Wednesday.
“Except one Chikun Sahu (22), the other nine patients have been discharged after treatment on Thursday. Chikun has been referred to Athagarh sub-divisional hospital after his condition started deteriorating due to dehydration,” said Medical Officer-in-charge, Narasinghpur Area Hospital Dr Ashok Mallik.
Outbreak of the disease is mainly attributed to consumption of contaminated water and unhygienic food. Sources said due to lack of availability of safe drinking water, people of these villages are forced to use water which are unsafe for human consumption. Locals have alleged that the wells and tube wells have not been disinfected by Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) department since long.
Villagers of Purusottampur alleged that the local Sarpanch, Block Development Officer and RWSS authorities have turned a deaf ear to their repeated requests to disinfect drinking water sources in their locality.
Besides, in absence of any check, sale of unhygienic food is increasing at roadside stalls which are mushrooming in the rural locality.
When contacted, Chief District Medical Officer, Cuttack, Dr Prafulla Behera, however, denied any outbreak of gastroenteritis. “It is gastroenteritis. The persons had developed food poisoning after attending a feast in the locality,” Behera said. A special medical team has rushed to the affected village and the situation is under control, he added.
Meanwhile, officials of RWSS department collected samples from different drinking water sources in the affected villages.