Bhubaneswar, June 19: The Odisha government launched a special vaccination drive in Rayagada district on Wednesday to contain a diphtheria outbreak, particularly in the Kasipur area, where five children have died.

With the outbreak spreading to neighboring districts Kalahandi and Koraput, the Health and Family Welfare Department has instructed district administrations to implement preventive measures to stop the disease from further spreading.

Under these measures, children under one year will receive pentavalent vaccines, while those aged one to seven will be given single-dose diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and tetanus (DPT) vaccines. Children over seven years will be administered tetanus and diphtheria (TD) doses.

Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Health and Family Welfare (HFW) Department, Shalini Pandit, has directed the Collector of Rayagada to take appropriate actions to contain the diphtheria outbreak in Manushpadar village of Kashipur Block. In a letter, Pandit outlined several measures for controlling the further spread of the disease among vulnerable populations.

Additionally, the Public Health Department has advised people suffering from diphtheria to wear masks.

To date, 21 diphtheria cases have been reported across three districts: 15 in Rayagada, 1 in Koraput, and 4 to 5 in Kalahandi.

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