Rourkela: Test reports of rectal swab and water samples collected from Nuadihi village in Hemgir block of Sundargarh district have confirmed the presence of E Coli bacteria, which is known to cause diarrhoea. Four persons, including two from Jharsuguda district, have died and a large number of people fell ill due to suspected food poisoning.
Current Situation
Although the number of new cases is decreasing, six persons are still undergoing treatment and two are under observation in the village. Health authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.
Sequence of Events
According to sources, residents of Nuadihi and nearby Jharsuguda villages had attended a post-funeral feast on May 21. Starting from May 22, several attendees complained of vomiting, diarrhoea, and stomach pain. In total, 54 people across the two districts were affected, including 47 in Nuadihi alone.
Health teams arrived at the village on May 23 and admitted 28 patients to Hemgir Community Health Centre (CHC). Among them, six were later shifted to Sundargarh district headquarters hospital (DHH) after their condition deteriorated. Two persons from Nuadihi village died during treatment, and two others from nearby villages in Jharsuguda district also succumbed.
Investigation and Response
On Sunday, a health team visited Nuadihi village and collected water and rectal swab samples for testing. A high-level health team led by Ashok Paikray, additional director of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), visited Nuadihi village on Monday to assess the situation and coordinate the response.
