A cholera outbreak in Goudpali village under Kansinga panchayat of Padmapur subdivision in Bargarh district has infected 19 people since March 3.
The village, with a population of around 600, reported three patients in serious condition, while 16 others are receiving treatment at home.
Among the infected are 12 women, six men, and one 10-year-old child. Health workers said the number of cases began with a few patients before spreading rapidly. Local ASHA workers initially distributed ORS and medicines, but infections continued to rise.
Jharsuguda CHC officials sent a three-member medical team, including a nurse and two male health workers, to Goudpali. The team examined the situation and distributed medicines to affected families.
Residents demanded a stronger medical response, urging authorities to send a full team of doctors to identify the cause of the outbreak and provide treatment to every villager. They stressed the need for preventive measures to stop further spread.
Officials confirmed that the source of the outbreak remains unclear. Investigations are underway to determine how so many people became infected simultaneously.
The cholera outbreak has raised concerns in the region, with villagers calling for immediate intervention to safeguard public health.
