After returning to the hostel following Christmas holidays, students fell ill one after another. Some developed high fever, while others' bodies turned yellow. A severe outbreak of jaundice has emerged at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Gurujang, Khurda district, Odisha. According to school sources, at least 40 students from classes sixth to twelfth have been affected by jaundice. This incident has spread intense panic among parents.
How did the infection spread?
According to school sources, mild symptoms began appearing in some students from December 20 onwards. However, the situation deteriorated rapidly after students returned to the hostel following Christmas holidays.
According to the health department, initially one student returned to the hostel with jaundice. It is presumed that the infection spread rapidly from that student. Currently, the affected students have been sent home and are being closely monitored.
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What does the health department say?
To handle the situation, a special team from the district health department and the local water supply organization, WATCO, rushed to the school on Sunday. Odisha's public health department has also begun an investigation.
State Public Health Director Dr. Nilkantha Mishra said, "District health officials inspected the school on Sunday, and a state-level team also went today. We are keeping a close watch on the situation and taking all necessary measures."
What is the source of the disease?
There are differing opinions about the source of the disease. Parents allege that the school's drinking water was contaminated. However, WATCO General Manager Rajendranath Naik and school authorities refuse to accept this allegation.
Rajendranath Naik said, "The water we supply is completely safe and monitored online 24 hours a day. Chlorination is also being done properly. I don't think there's any problem with the water. It's possible this trouble occurred from eating some outside food. Nevertheless, we have collected water samples from 12 locations on the school campus. The report will come by 8 PM tonight. Only then will the matter become clear."
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School Vice-Principal N C Chakra said, "We have tested the water from the school's overhead and submerged tanks, and no contamination was found there."
However, some parents refuse to accept this. They claim that the unsanitary environment inside the residential school and contaminated water are the cause of this crisis. Due to fear of infection, anxiety has also emerged among parents of healthy students.
As a precautionary measure, the entire school has been sanitized and water tanks have been cleaned. If even the slightest symptoms of fever or jaundice appear, arrangements are being made to isolate students or send them home. The wait is now for WATCO's laboratory report. That will clarify whether the real cause of jaundice is the school campus water or outside food. Until then, students and their families remain in extreme anxiety.
