Odisha government suspects fulminant hepatitis

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government on Monday said fulminant hepatitis leading to multi-organ failure could have caused the death of two women, who had consumed mango kernel gruel in Kandhamal district.

On Thursday, Runi Majhi (30) and Ranita Patamajhi (28) of Mandipanka village under Daringbadi block died and six others were hospitalised after they consumed the gruel made of mango kernel.

Director of Public Health Dr Nilakantha Mishra said, “Although postmortem and food sample test reports are still awaited, two other patients who have been admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack, have been diagnosed with pulmonary hepatic failure caused by a fungal infection. They are being treated for multi-organ failure. This is why we are suspecting that the two women could have died due to fulminant hepatitis,” he said.