Utkal University postpones exams following Hepatitis A outbreak

Utkal University has indefinitely postponed its mid-semester examinations following an outbreak of Hepatitis A among students. At least 12 students have tested positive for the infection out of 19 samples collected by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation’s Urban Surveillance Unit.

The illnesses were primarily reported among residents of Girls’ Hostels 6 and 7. Some students required hospitalization, and health officials are investigating whether the infection spread through contaminated food or water, or potentially through campus feasts held during recent elections.

In response, the university has established a dedicated control room, pharmacy, and public health facility. Authorities have suspended the use of borewell water, initiated the cleaning of hostel water tanks, and provided 1,000 litres of drinking water to affected hostels. Students have been advised to drink boiled water, and the sale of street food on campus has been banned. A specialized medical team is conducting ongoing surveillance and testing of water and blood samples to identify the exact source of the infection.