To contain diphtheria outbreak in Odisha’s Rayagada district after five samples came back positive, taking the tally to 15, the state health government on Tuesday stepped up measures, including restricting travel movement and increasing vaccination coverage. Of the total cases reported in Manushpadar village of Kashipur block in the district, the disease has claimed five lives in the last one month, said official sources. State health secretary Shalini Pandit, in a letter to Rayagada district collector Manoj Satyawan Mahajan, emphasized on surveillance, post-exposure prophylaxis and strengthening vaccination. The state has asked the officials to take up containment measures and restrict the ‘in’ and ‘out’ migration from the village. The officials have been directed to prepare a plan for rapid assessment of vaccination coverage.“Integrated camps will be conducted for vaccination of all left out/drop out children .” said health secretary Pandit.
