The diarrhoea outbreak has claimed two lives in Hirakud of Sambalpur district. On Sunday, a patient identified as Yudhisthir Dharua from Bhejrapali, succumbed while undergoing treatment
Earlier on Saturday, a 45-year-old man had died at the VIMSAR in Burla.
Around 157 persons have been affected over the past four days in the outbreak. Currently, 16 patients are receiving treatment at the Urban Community Health Centre in Hirakud and VIMSAR.
Chief District Medical and Public Health Officer Dr Sujata Rani Mishra said, "The situation is under control today with 11 new patients admitted to hospitals. Medical staffs are ascertaining whether the death of a person in the morning was due to diarrhoea."
Medical authorities suspect water contamination as the root cause of the outbreak. The Public Health Engineering Department is conducting door-to-door surveys and collecting water sample in the affected areas.
However, Sub-Divisional Officer Gulshan Sahu said, "No sample tested so far reports contamination. The outbreak might have happened for some other reason."
In response to the crisis, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has urged immediate intervention from a Central medical team.
