Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, accompanied by Health Secretary Arti Ahuja and other officials, visited Potrel village in Malkangiri district on Sunday to take stock of the situation following the death of several children on account of a mysterious disease.
The Minister and the Secretary discussed the issue with the villagers and advised the Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) to take all possible steps to control the disease, which has claimed lives of at least 11 children at Potrel and adjoining villages in the last few days. Nayak said blood samples collected from Potrel and other villages have been sent to the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) laboratory in Bhubaneswar and another lab in Pune.
“The reason behind the deaths and disease will be known after reports are available from the labs. Our team is camping in the area to monitor the situation as well as provide immediate treatment to the affected,” the Minister said. Preliminary reports suggest that the disease could be viral encephalitis.