Raiganj: The news of 2 more child deaths in the villages of Karandighi in North Dinajpur district has taken the death toll to 14, alarming health officials in the district, who are unable to give a name to the disease.
The death of a 3 year old from Rudel village and a similar fate of another 4 year old child from the same village have caused a scare among residents in the district.The health authorities are not absolutely sure about the nature of the disease, though they think it could be encephalitis.
To control the spread of this ‘unknown’ disease, district health authorities have advised villagers to consume only boiled water. They have also been advised to keep their surroundings clean and avoid the consumption of diced fruits kept in the open.
The Chief Medical Officer of Health in the district, Dr S S Shahoo said, “The source of disease is yet to be ascertained. We suspect that the disease is water, air and mosquito borne.DDT and bleaching powder were sprinkled in the affected villages and the residents have been instructed to provide boiled drinking water to the children.”
As health officials struggle to give a name to the disease, the stress clearly is on precautionary measures to arrest the spread of this disease and prevent further damage.
Source-Medindia
SAV/L
