Mass dysentery in Cachar's Kurkuri Tea Estate, 1 dead; "Khichuri Prasad is the source of infection," Officer

There has been an outbreak of mass dysentery in Cachar’s Kurkuri Tea garden located in Katigora Legislative Assembly Constituency.

As soon as the district health department got the intel, the Kalain Health Team was instructed to visit the Kurkuri garden and take stalk of the situation. The medical team led by a senior officer went to the spot and found out that at least 25 residents of the same garden are suffering from the diarrhea-type disease. Most of them complained that they were suffering from loose motions and vomiting.

Six such patients were identified to be in a critical condition and were first treated in Kalain CHC and then referred to Silchar Medical College and Hospital for better treatment.

However, the team’s visit turned out to be a little late for one. Saraswati Munda, a resident of the garden already died by the time the team of doctors reached the spot. His daughter was also dehydrated and the doctors started intravenous treatment.

Dr. Suman Bhowmik of Kalain Health Department informed that the team of medical officials comprising of doctors and lab technicians have collected stool and saliva samples and the same have been sent to the Microbiology Department of Silchar Medical College and Hospital to identify if there is any sort of poisoning.

“We have come to know that some of the residents attended a puja in Narayanpur Salchapra where they took Khichuri Prasad. Some of them brought the same prasad back home in large quantity which the others consumed. We have identified that Khichudi Prasad as the source of infection and so there is very little chance of any internal infections,” asserted Dr. Bhowmik.

He also informed that the patients are recovering well and none of them are in critical conditions at this stage. The six referred to Silchar Medical College and Hospital have also been sent to Kalain CHC.