Cholera scare in Kalahandi

BHAWANUIPATNA: Three persons have died of suspected cholera in Narla block, 36 km from here, in Kalahandi district.
Malti Naik, 62, of Beherapati village, Chinguda Bag, 17, of Rekhpur village and Namita Pradhan, 9, of Pipalpadar village died on August 22 and 23 and September 6 respectively. However, CDMO Labanyaprava Mund attributed the deaths to diarrhoea.Their samples had not been tested.
The district administration sent samples to SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, for tests after the condition of several patients, afflicted with gastroenteritis, turned serious.
"Out of 10 samples sent to five were found vibrio cholerae positive," said Mund. The test reports came on September 7, she added.
Between August 21 and September 7, official reports said, 245 cases of severe diarrhoea were reported in 47 villages of 10 gram panchayats in Narla block. All were admitted to Narla community health centre (CHC).
Highest number of 41 people from Sargiguda panchayat have been admitted. Of the 245 cases, 30 patients were referred to Bhawanipatna district headquarters hospital. At present, 13 patients are being treated at Narla CHC and rest have been discharged, a doctor said.
"We are sensitizing people not to drink stream water. The administration is taking measures to disinfect water sources to check spread of the killer disease," said the CDMO.
Earlier, there was only one doctor at Narla CHC. After more persons were affected, three more doctors were sent to the CHC on deputation. Nineteen accredited social health activists have been posted at the CHC and mobile health units are moving around villages. Out of six nursing posts in the CHC, two are lying vacant.
At least six doctors are required in Narla CHC, but doctors are reluctant to join due to lack of staff quarters, said an official.