Koraput: Villagers of Karanja under Kalyansingpur block in the tribal-dominated Rayagada district are down with viral fever.
Sources said that around 60 persons, including children of the village, were suffering from fever, and the villagers were depending on traditional healing methods rather than going to hospital. "The villagers are panicked and immediate medial intervention is required. Or else, the situation may turn alarming," said a local villager.
The district administration sent a mobile health unit to the village to treat the patients on Friday and claimed that the situation was under control. "Our team treated around 60 patients at the village, and their condition is stable. While blood samples of at least two villagers were tested positive for malaria, the rest are down with viral fever," said Kalyansinghpur community health centre's medical officer Chinmayee Lima.
The officer said the villagers were being urged to take necessary precautionary measures to contain the disease and massive information, education and communication drive had been launched there.
"The villagers are being asked to drink warm water and not to allow stagnation of water. A mobile health unit is campaigning at the village and monitoring the situation," said Rayagada additional district medical officer B.L.N. Prusty.
Last week, at least five persons of Biranarayanpur village under Rayagada block had been tested positive for dengue.