Jaundice outbreak hits two educational institutes amid heavy rain; several students hospitalised

SAMBALPUR: Jaundice cases have been reported at a private school in Sambalpur and the state-run Utkal University here following heavy rainfall in several parts of Odisha last week, officials said on Tuesday. Preliminary reports suggest that several students contracted the infection at the two institutions, while five students of the private school, whose condition was stated to be serious, were admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

Several other affected students are undergoing treatment at home. The exact number of cases has not yet been officially confirmed. Following the outbreak, the private school management issued a notice asking students to vacate the hostels and return home for quarantine.

The exercise began on October 29, with the authorities also contacting students who had already left the hostels, sources said. Sambalpur Collector SB Bondar said the institution was drawing water from two sources of its own, including a borewell.

"The institution has been directed to disinfect the water sources as well as the supply lines to prevent further contamination," he said. A show-cause notice has also been served on the school authorities seeking an explanation, Bondar said.

A special health team from the office of the Chief District Medical and Public Health Officer (CDM&PHO), Nilamadhab Satpathy, visited the institution on October 30, inspected the premises and collected drinking water samples for laboratory examination. Satpathy said a special committee had been constituted to investigate the incident. Meanwhile, a health camp was organised on the school premises on Tuesday to screen students and assess the situation.

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Screening for 300-400 students

"We asked the institution to mobilise 300-400 students for screening. A team of four doctors conducted the screening camp at the institution on Tuesday, and we are yet to receive the report. We plan to continue the screening drive for three days," Satpathy said. He added that the students undergoing medical treatment were in stable condition.

Meanwhile, two girl students residing in a hostel at Utkal University were diagnosed with jaundice and admitted to two private hospitals in Bhubaneswar.

"Two girl students of our hostel were infected with jaundice and admitted to two private hospitals in Bhubaneswar. We suspect that the students might have eaten some outside food during the Durga Puja vacation," a university official said. Health officials have screened students and collected samples from eight suspected cases, with the test results awaited, she said.

"We have restricted students from having outside food and provided necessary medicines, ORS and halogen tablets to the hostel boarders," the official added.