A significant outbreak of jaundice has been reported at the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV), a residential school located in Gurujang, Khurda district of Odisha. The incident has led to at least 25 students testing positive for the illness, prompting immediate action from the school administration.
Outbreak Details and Initial Response
The situation came to light when students began reporting symptoms of ill health approximately a week ago. According to the school's Vice-Principal, N C Chakra, the issue became more apparent after the New Year break. Some students who had gone home returned to the campus and subsequently developed symptoms resembling cold, fever, and jaundice. After receiving preliminary medical care at the school, these symptomatic students were sent back to their homes, where diagnostic tests confirmed they had contracted jaundice.
The residential school, which has a total student strength of 569, has taken swift measures to contain the spread. All 25 students who tested positive have been sent home. Furthermore, reports for another 100 students, who were also suffering from fever and were similarly sent home, are currently awaited. This suggests the number of infections could rise significantly.
Investigation into the Cause and On-Campus Measures
Initial suspicion for the outbreak fell on possible water contamination. However, Vice-Principal Chakra refuted this theory. He stated that water samples from both the overhead and submerged tanks on the school premises were tested, and the results did not indicate any contamination. The school authorities also clarified that the water tanks were cleaned twice in the previous year, during both the summer and winter vacations.
A medical team visited the school on Sunday to assess the situation comprehensively. They conducted health check-ups for the students who remained on campus. Local health officials have indicated that the outbreak appears to be a case of viral hepatitis, a common cause of infectious jaundice. In addition to water, food samples from the school have been collected for laboratory testing to rule out other sources.
Ongoing Efforts to Curb the Spread
The school administration is actively working with health authorities to manage the crisis. We are constantly in touch with the chief district medical officer, stated Chakra. Preventive medical care is being provided to the students currently residing on the campus. Special attention is being given as many students from classes X and XII are present for their ongoing examinations, making it crucial to prevent further transmission.
Awareness camps focusing on hygiene practices are being organized for students and staff. All necessary measures are being implemented to control the outbreak. The combined efforts of the school and district medical officials aim to ensure the health and safety of the entire student community while allowing academic activities to continue with minimal disruption.
