CUTTACK: With no let-up in outbreak of jaundice in the Millennium City, Collector Nirmal Chandra Mishra, Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) Commissioner Gyana Das and Barabati-Cuttack MLA Debasis Samantaray on Friday visited the worst-affected Bangali Sahi and Matha Sahi along with officials of Public Health Engineering Organisation (PHEO) to take stock of the situation.
On the other hand, a 61-year-old woman allegedly died of jaundice while undergoing treatment at a private Hospital here on Thursday night.
The deceased patient was identified as Purnima Rana of Tulasipur Matha Sahi. Sources said Purnima was suffering from the disease for the last 12 days. Her two sons Abhimanyu and Akhay have also been affected by jaundice.
While official sources said the number of persons affected by jaundice in Tulasipur, Matha Sahi, Narayan Sahu lane Srivihar Colony and Bangali Sahi of Ward Nos 8, 9 and 16 has increased from 76 to 93, unofficial sources put the figure at more than 100.
As use of contaminated drinking water due to leakage in pipelines close to drains is said to be the main reason behind the outbreak of the water-borne disease, the administration has directed PHEO officials to conduct a thorough check of the damaged pipelines.
PHEO officials have also been directed to chlorinate water tanks in the affected areas, said CMC Commissioner Das.
Besides, the CMC has also initiated mass cleaning activities and campaign for household awareness in the affected and vulnerable areas, Das said.
To provide treatment to jaundice patients, the CMC has also requested Superintendent of SCB Medical College and Hospital to depute doctors from Haematology department to the affected localities, he added.
Considering the situation, SCBMCH authorities have opened a 15-bed special ward at Hepatology department to provide treatment to jaundice patients.
One patient is undergoing treatment at the special ward, said Nodal Officer of SCBMCH Dr Umesh Chandra Patra.