Infection after consuming Khichuri; Seven new admissions including three kids, one referred to SMCH

Mass dysentery continues in Cachar district’s Kurkuri Tea Garden. Seven more individuals took admission to the local hospital and one of them were referred to Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH). Three of them are kids and have been admitted to Kalain CHC for intravenous treatment.

It is worth mentioning here that one individual has died so far and more and around 40 needed treatment. Around 15 have been admitted to the hospitals. The source of infection has been identified as the Khichuri Prasad. Villagers had visited Narayanpur, Salchapra and attended a Puja. There they took Khichuri prasad and some even carried it back home. Soon, villagers started falling sick after consuming the prasad.

Saraswati Munda has already been declared dead and her daughter is also under treatment. Infection in kids come in as a big worry for the people of the valley. “We are sending patients suffering with acute dysentery to the SMCH. Some of the patients have been returned to Kalain CHC after oral medication. We feel the patients need intravenous attention as they are suffering from acute dysentery,” said Dr. Suman Bhowmik, Kalain CHC.

The samples of stool and saliva have been sent to the Department of Microbiology to identify nature of the contamination. Dr. Bhowmik informed that the reports are still awaited.