Keonjhar: A medical team on Wednesday visited Talabaruda village in Banspal block to probe the death of an 11‑year‑old girl, allegedly after consuming expired medicine.The deceased, Hiramani Naik, daughter of an ASHA worker, had been suffering from fever. Her mother, Sridevi Naik, had procured medicines from a nearby ANM centre for both her children. Soon after taking the tablets, the girl and her sibling fell ill and were first shifted to Banspal community health centre and later to the district headquarters hospital, where Hiramani died. The family alleged that the medicine given to her had expired.Chief district medical officer Dr Dhaneshwar Sethi said a probe had been ordered and the exact cause of death will be known after a detailed inquiry.A team, led by Banspal CHC officer Dr Biswajit Naik, visited the village, recorded statements of family members and locals, and inspected the Singpur ANM centre. “The report will be submitted to the CDMO,” Dr Naik said.He added that the girl had tested positive for malaria and was undergoing treatment. “The cause of death will be clear only after a detailed investigation,” he said.Sridevi Naik claimed she later realised that the tablets given earlier had expired. “When the fever did not subside, I took both children to the CHC. She was later referred to the district hospital, where she died,” she said.Doctors suspect the possibility of cerebral malaria. Former CDMO and ex-district malaria officer Dr Udayanath Barik said in malaria‑positive cases, cerebral malaria could be fatal if not treated in time. He, however, noted that expired medicines do not usually cause immediate severe effects.The incident has raised concern in the district, where the health department has claimed zero malaria deaths in recent years. Activists have often questioned these claims, alleging underreporting.With malaria cases still prevalent in remote, tribal-dominated pockets of Keonjhar, experts stressed the need for timely detection and treatment. All eyes are now on the CDMO’s report to ascertain the exact cause of the child’s death.
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