Jaundice Cases Emerge at Odisha School, Prompting Major Health Response
Health officials in Odisha are scrambling to contain a potential jaundice outbreak after cases were reported from a school in Dhenkanal district. This development follows similar incidents at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Khurda district, raising concerns about student safety across the state.
Confirmed Cases and Parental Concerns
Two students from Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya at Biswanathpur in Gondia block tested positive for jaundice on Tuesday. Both affected students study in Class 6 and 7. Another student showed clear symptoms of the disease, though her blood test results are still pending.
Parents of students at the school are raising serious alarms. They claim that more than ten students have actually been affected by jaundice. Frustrated by what they see as inadequate monitoring, a group of parents confronted education officials about poor sanitation conditions both at the school and in private hostels where many students live.
School Response and Investigation Launch
Narendra Kumar Das, the principal-in-charge of the school, explained how the situation unfolded. The school had closed for winter vacation on December 23, 2025, and reopened on January 2. Examinations began on January 5.
When two students failed to appear for their exams, school authorities contacted their parents. The parents then revealed that both children had been diagnosed with jaundice and were undergoing treatment. Similarly, the third symptomatic student also missed her exams, with her family reporting jaundice symptoms.
The school has 387 students total. Since the school's own hostels are not currently functional, residential students stay in private hostels nearby. Das confirmed that one affected student lived in a private hostel near the school, another was a local resident, and the third symptomatic student also boarded at a private hostel.
Health Officials Swing Into Action
Dr. Sanjaya Mohapatra, Dhenkanal's chief district medical and public health officer, detailed the response. Following confirmation of the two jaundice cases, a multi-departmental team visited the school on Tuesday.
This team included healthcare officials, representatives from the rural water supply scheme, food safety authorities, and district education officers. They collected water and food samples from the school premises to check for possible contamination.
More significantly, health workers collected blood samples from over 200 students who were present on campus that day. These samples have been sent for laboratory testing to identify any additional cases.
Dr. Mohapatra emphasized that there is no confirmed outbreak on campus yet. However, authorities are implementing all necessary measures to prevent any potential spread through contaminated food or water sources.
Political Attention and Statewide Alert
The situation has drawn attention at the highest levels of state government. School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond expressed serious concern about jaundice cases appearing on school campuses.
Minister Gond issued instructions to all district education officials across Odisha. He directed them to remain extremely vigilant about sanitation and water safety issues in all schools and their associated hostels.
Regarding the specific case at Gondia's Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya, the minister stated that authorities would determine the exact cause behind the disease transmission. He also indicated that isolation measures would be implemented if medical experts deem them necessary to control any potential spread.
This incident highlights ongoing challenges with health infrastructure and sanitation in some educational institutions. Parents and health advocates are calling for more rigorous monitoring and preventive measures to protect students from waterborne diseases like jaundice.
