Bhubaneswar: A suspected case of food contamination in Odisha’s Jajpur district led to the hospitalisation of 58 people, including 27 children, after they consumed a popular local snack in a village earlier this week, officials said.
The incident was reported from Patapur village under the Dasarathapur block on Friday. According to police inputs, those affected had eaten dahibara, a well-known regional delicacy, from a roadside vendor before developing symptoms such as vomiting and fever within a short span.
According to reports, all those who fell ill were taken to nearby medical facilities, including the Dasarathapur Community Health Centre and the district headquarters hospital, where they received treatment.
District authorities later confirmed that a section of the patients had responded well to care, with 21 individuals discharged after recovery.
District Collector Ambar Kumar Kar reviewed the situation at the hospital, while Health Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling also visited the facility to assess the condition of those undergoing treatment. Officials indicated that preliminary findings pointed towards the consumption of contaminated dahibara as a possible cause, though laboratory confirmation is awaited.
Food and water samples have been collected and sent for detailed testing. The state government has initiated a multi-layered probe into the incident, with three separate teams tasked with examining the circumstances leading to the outbreak. Authorities also indicated that measures are being taken to ensure that all affected patients continue to receive appropriate medical attention as the investigation progresses.
