Bhubaneswar, Sept. 17: The state government today claimed that the outbreak of diarrhoea in tribal-dominated Nabarangpur district was under control and steps had been taken to contain the water-borne disease in the region.

Since July 27, 271 diarrhoea cases have been reported from the south Odisha district, out of which six people died. Health officials said three deaths were reported in Jharigaon block, two in Chandahandi block and one in Umerkote block.

Health minister Damodar Rout said: “Despite the spread of diarrhoea and some samples from villages in Chandahandi and Jharigaon testing positive for cholera (vibrio cholerae) the condition has not taken the shape of an epidemic. Till date no one has died due to cholera and the health department and the district administration is on high alert.”

Vibrio cholerae is a comma shaped bacteria that causes cholera. If not controlled, the spread can take epidemic proportion.

Rout said the director of public health with a team of experts and another team from the MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur were deployed in the district and they were monitoring the situation.

The state government has taken steps to ensure supply of medicine, oral re-hydration salt pouches to ensure better electrolytic balance in the affected, halogen capsules to purify water and saline injections.

The health minister also directed senior officials to take steps to post doctors in all vacant posts in the district.

Consumption of contaminated water in tribal pockets and the outbreak of water-borne diseases are almost an annual affair in the south Odisha districts. Though the state health officials claim that people were dying because of multiple causes such as ageing, renal failure and heart diseases in three blocks (Jharigaon, Kosamguda and Chandahandi), 61 persons have died since January.

“We need detailed research and awareness campaigns to contain the repeated occurrence of water-borne diseases,” said Bikas Pati, a Bhubaneswar-based water expert.