Odisha Health Minister Orders Enhanced Surveillance Amid Outbreak of Diseases

Bhubaneswar: Expressing grave concern over the recent outbreaks of Japanese encephalitis (JE), jaundice, and diphtheria in Angul, Sambalpur, and Rayagada districts, Odisha’s Health and Family Welfare Minister, Mukesh Mahaling, has instructed state and district authorities to enhance surveillance and implement strict health measures.

During a review meeting held on Monday, Minister Mahaling emphasized the need for heightened fever surveillance in the affected districts and stressed the importance of providing potable water to prevent further spread of these diseases.

The meeting, chaired by the Health Minister in the conference hall of the Commissioner-cum-Secretary, was attended by senior officials from the Health and Family Welfare Department, the Directorate of Public Health (DPH), and the Directorate of Health Services (DHS).

The Sambalpur district administration reported a sharp rise in jaundice cases, with the number climbing to 82 by June 24, 2024, up from 74 the previous day. Consumption of street food items such as gupchup, dahibara, and chuski is suspected to be a significant factor contributing to the rapid spread of jaundice in the district.

In response, the Health Department has intensified awareness campaigns in Sambalpur, conducting door-to-door surveys and collecting water samples from the affected areas to mitigate the outbreak. The districts of Kumbharpada, Saliabagicha, Pensionpada, Dhobapada, and Hirakud Colony are reported to be the most severely impacted.