Jaundice, the water-borne disease which claimed many lives in Sambalpur and some other districts recently, has visibly spread its wing in Ganjam district claiming a life and affecting many others.The deceased was identified as K Srinivas Rao (53) of Kamapalli Badasahi in the city. He was working as an Auditor at the State Secretariat. He was admitted in the MKCG Medical College and Hospital on his return from his Sambalpur and Balangir deputation. Though he was discharged by the hospital, yet he fell ill again and was admitted in the hospital. He died on Sunday, informed his son K Vishal.
MKCG Medical College Principal Dr Ashoak Behera said Rao might have been affected with the disease due to consumption of water at Sambalpur. Proper treatment had been provided to him in the hospital, he added.The Pioneer was the first newspaper which had published suspected cases of jaundice in the silk city on January 12.
According to information, a large number of patients are suffering from water-borne diseases like jaundice and diarrhoea and undergoing treatment at different Government and private hospitals, including the City Hospital and the MKCG Medical College Hospital. While some of them have been discharged after treatment, others are still fighting the disease.Meanwhile, a state of panic seems to have prevailed in the city with many residents expressing resentments over Rao’s death.“When Rao was undergoing treatment at the MKCG Medical College Hospital, how come the doctors failed to save his life,” questioned a resident.
On the other hand, the ADMO (Public Health) Dr Umasankar Mishra said though no cases of jaundice were reported last year, two jaundice patients were identified in the last week of December and were treated at the City Hospital.However, Health Department officials have remained tight lipped and yet to inform exact number of people suffering from the deadly disease in the district.