BHUBANESHWAR: The Odisha government on Monday said fulminant hepatitis leading to multi-organ failure could have led to the death of two women, who had consumed mango kernel gruel in Kandhamal district.
On Thursday, Runi Majhi (30) and Ranita Patamajhi (28) of Mandipanka village under Daringbadi block had died and six others were hospotalised after they consumed the gruel made of mango kernel.
Director of Public Health Dr Nilakantha Mishra said multi-organ failure due to fulminant hepatitis might have caused the death of two women who had consumed stale mango kernel gruel.
"Although postmortem and food sample test reports are still awaited, two other patients, who have been admitted at SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack have been diagnosed with pulmonary hepatic failure caused by a fungal infection. They are being treated for multi-organ failure. This is why we are suspecting that the two women could have died due to fulminant hepatitis," he said.
Fulminant hepatitis, Dr Mishra said, is a severe form of acute liver failure found in people without prior liver problems or chronic hepatitis. It developed in those who had the gruel after two-three days of its preparation.
They had kept it without proper preservation and the gruel became toxic leading to fungal growth among those who had consumed it, he said.
Director of Health Services Dr Bijay Kumar Mohapatra two patients - Tuni Majhi (30) and Jeeta Majhi (30) are currently being treated in the medicine ICU at SCB MCH hospital and their condition is critical.
The condition of other four persons is stable, he said.
Earlier, the state government had attributed the deaths to food poisoning after consumption of mango kernel gruel. Awareness drives have been intensified in the tribal villages to educate people about the toxic effects of such stuffs.