At least 10 children have allegedly succumbed to diphtheria in the tribal-dominated Koraput and Rayagada districts of Odisha in the last fortnight.

Out of the 10, two deaths were reported in the last 24 hours from these districts.

While a large number of kids have been affected by diphtheria, pneumonia, anthrax and other unknown diseases, only a few cases have been reported in the local hospitals and health centres, sources said.

However, the Odisha government maintained that only six deaths took place because of diphtheria. “So far, six deaths have been officially confirmed because of diphtheria. We have received news of the death of another two kids. The investigation is on. The new cases may be because of pneumonia. Let me talk to the chief district medical officers (CDMOs) on the issues,” public health director Nilakantha Mishra told The Telegraph on Friday.

Mishra said deaths were announced after the Regional Medical Research Centre confirmed them following examinations of the samples that the chief district medical officers sent to them. “With the help of local administration, we have launched surveillance and isolation so that disease cannot be spread to other parts. The medical teams are on their jobs,” Mishra said.

Diphtheria, a bacterial infection, affects the mucous membranes of the nose and throat. “It causes breathing and heart rhythm problems and sometimes leads to death. The symptoms include swollen gland in the neck, characterised by breathing or rapid breathing, nasal discharge, and fever,” said the doctor.

To prevent the spread of the disease, the state government has launched a booster dose of the diphtheria vaccine that is being administered to all the kids in Rayagada and Koraput. “We are also giving prophylactic doses of antibiotics to all susceptible persons in these areas. Door-to-door screening and treatment has been launched,” said officials.

While a diphtheria outbreak has been reported in southern Odisha, in Koraput and Rayagada blocks, reports of a jaundice outbreak have come from western Odisha, particularly Sambalpur.

“We are taking measures to control the transmission of jaundice to other parts of the Sambalpur district. It's transmitted through food and water. An awareness programme has been launched in the area,” said officials.