Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday directed the State Health Department and the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) to investigate and determine the reasons for the deaths in Manuspadar village in the Kashipur block of Rayagada district.
Majhi directed the concerned authorities to take all possible steps to normalize the situation.
At least five deaths were reported in Manuspadar, a remote village in the Kashipur block of Rayagada district, over a period of one month.
The Chief Minister has also directed the Panchayati Raj Department to provide drinking water supply and construct a motorable road to the village at the earliest.
A state-level team visited the village, conducted door-to-door screening and treatment, and carried out necessary investigations, official sources said.
Health teams are visiting daily and closely monitoring the situation.
Sources said the first four deaths were not brought to any health facility or health worker and were cremated at the community level. They are suspected to be cases of diphtheria.
In the case of the fifth death, samples were sent to RMRC for testing on Saturday, and they have been confirmed to be diphtheria.
A prophylactic dose of antibiotics has been given to all susceptible persons in the community, and the symptomatic patients are responding to treatment, the sources said.
The situation is under control, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) sources said.
