Bhubaneswar: The fear of a possible outbreak of cholera in Odisha’s Puri district in the aftermath of cyclone Fani has finally happened, causing serious worry to the state administration. More than 50 people have been taken ill following outbreak of the disease at different villages in Sonepur and cyclone Fani-hit Brahmagiri of Puri district.
According to sources, dozens of people complained of stomach pain and later showed symptoms of vomiting and dysentery at Janmura village in Sonepur district on Wednesday. At least 23 of them, including five children, were admitted to district headquarters hospital (DHH) as their condition worsened.
Due to unavailability of space at the district headquarters hospital, the patients were treated with saline and antibiotics on the veranda of the hospital.
Although the exact reason behind the outbreak of the infection was yet to be ascertained, villagers suspect that use of contaminated water from open water source like ponds and wells in the village has led to the incident.
Villagers have appealed the hospital and district health authorities to send a mobile health team for assessment of the situation at the village.
