Panic gripped Jemadeipur village in Jajpur district as 26 people were affected with diarrhoea within four days.
Five persons of two families at the village suffered from loose motion and vomiting on Sunday while 21 others fell ill due to the waterborne disease.
The affected persons are undergoing treatment at local dispensary and community health centre at Dharmasala. Four of the affected persons have been shifted to S C B Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack after their condition detoriarated.
It is alleged that consumption of polluted water from the village well is suspected to be the reason of the infection.
"We have been forced to consume polluted water from the lone village well in the absence of any hand-pump and pipe drinking water," said Bipin Dalei.
The district health officials, however, claimed there was no reason to panic. But they admitted that the number of gastroenteritis cases in the area was on the rise.
"Consumption of contaminated water and unhygienic food are believed to be the main reasons behind spurt in diarrhoea cases," said Debendra Kumar Jena, Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) of Jajpur.
