Jaundice Outbreak in Odisha School Linked to Contaminated Water: Official

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A jaundice outbreak among students at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Odisha's Khordha district has been linked to contaminated water, health authorities confirmed. According to Dr. Nilkantha Mishra, Director of Public Health, Odisha, no new cases have been reported, but the situation is being closely monitored and will be acted upon if the numbers increase. The source of the contamination is believed to be orofecal, meaning the water was contaminated and entered the system. Steps are being taken to decontaminate the water, making it clean and safe for consumption. The school's water-supply department or authorities are responsible for the contamination, according to Dr. Mishra. His team is actively handling the disease response, but the responsibility for water contamination lies with the school authorities. As of now, 15 out of 81 patients have been discharged, and their blood will be tested to determine if they are free of jaundice and related conditions. The health department is taking preventive measures to contain the spread, including visiting schools and conducting inspections. State Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling has assured the public that the health crisis at the residential school is stabilizing, with dozens of affected students recovering. A central team has arrived to identify the source of the infection and ensure student safety on campus.