Cuttack Jaundice Outbreak Sparks Political Clash Over Civic Response
Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) staff, in collaboration with health and family welfare department officials, conducted visits to jaundice-affected localities in Cuttack's ward numbers 10 and 12 on Friday, implementing necessary measures to control the outbreak, according to Mayor Subash Singh.
Comprehensive Health Measures Underway
Singh detailed that a thorough door-to-door survey is currently in progress to identify residents exhibiting symptoms of jaundice, ensuring early detection and timely medical intervention. The health department's rapid response team has been deployed to contain the outbreak and coordinate field-level measures effectively.
"Now the situation is under control," Singh asserted, emphasizing the coordinated efforts between municipal and health authorities.
Political Accusations Surface
The jaundice outbreak has ignited a political confrontation between Congress MLA Sofia Firdous and Mayor Subash Singh. Firdous, representing Barabati-Cuttack, accused the mayor of failing to address the jaundice problem adequately.
She attributed the outbreak to:
- Poor sanitation practices
- Mismanagement of civic infrastructure
- Inadequate leadership from the mayor
"Drain water is getting mixed with drinking water supply and creating a jaundice situation in some localities after people used the contaminated water," Firdous alleged, pointing to water contamination as a primary cause.
Mayor's Counter-Argument
In response, Singh clarified that water supply in Cuttack is managed by Watco, a government-run agency, not the CMC. He suggested that the housing and urban development department holds responsibility for changing agencies and executing sanitation works.
"The MLA does not know that water is supplied by a govt-run agency, Watco, not the CMC," Singh stated, redirecting accountability to state-level authorities.
Official Health Updates and Response
The government confirmed 13 additional jaundice cases in Cuttack on Friday, bringing the total to 21. These cases were reported from Mansinghpatna, Shaikh Bazaar, and Mastram Matha areas. Official sources identified the Hepatitis A virus in patient samples.
City Health Officer Dr. Nrupendra Satapathy reported that blood samples from 40 individuals were collected in two phases during the investigation. "A total of 21 people tested positive for Hepatitis-A. The jaundice-affected people are recovering at home. None of them is critical," he confirmed.
Health authorities have implemented several containment measures:
- Disinfection of affected areas
- Provision of safe drinking water to impacted residents
- Awareness programs to educate the public about disease prevention
The outbreak highlights ongoing challenges in urban water management and public health infrastructure, with political figures offering contrasting perspectives on responsibility and solution implementation.
