Nearly 200 hit by gastro in Orissa

Nearly 200 people in Rayagada, Orissa have been hit by gastroenterities during the last four days, prompting health authorities to initiate measures to prevent its spread.

Nearly 200 people in Rayagada, Orissa have been hit by gastroenterities during the last four days, prompting health authorities to initiate measures to prevent its spread, official sources said on Tuesday.

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"Gastroenterities has affected nearly 200 people in this district headquarters town since January 19. The patients are being given medical treatement at government hospital here," Additional District Medical Officer Benudhar Nayak said.

While some of the patients have been discharged, many others are undergoing treatment at the hospital, he said.

As the disease is believed to have broken out due to contaminated water, all water sources including that supplied through the public health department were being disinfected with proper treatment and spray of chemical agents, he said.

Medical teams were visiting every ward in the town where halogen tablets and ORS pouches were being distributed among the people as a precautionary measure, Nayak said adding food inspectors are carrying out checkings at hotels, restaurants, eating joints, kiosks and roadside mobile stalls to prevent sale of stale and infected food articles.

The disease has erupted barely five months after cholera and water-borne diseases claimed around 100 lives in some areas of Rayagada, Koraput and Kalahandi districts.