Kozhikode: A spike in Jaundice cases has forced Changaroth panchayat in Kozhikode to cancel Onam celebrations. An all-party meeting held in the panchayat on Friday decided to call off celebrations to contain the spread of the disease.

A total of 71 cases have so far been confirmed in the panchayat. On Friday, four more children at Vadakkumbad Higher Secondary School tested positive for the disease. Following this, the health department decided to examine all students in the school. The health department said that the source of the infection is yet to be identified. Though water in the well on the school compound and pumped to the school were examined, no presence of any bacteria or contamination was found.

The panchayat authority ordered the closure of shops selling juice and ice cream as a preventive measure to control the outbreak. The panchayat president has asked all regional institutions and associations to cancel Onam celebrations until further notice. The local government will intensify the preventive measures in the coming days.

Various parts of the district have been reporting jaundice cases with the onset of monsoon. On September 4, the health wing of the Kozhikode Corporation said that nearly 25 people in Eravathukunnu and surroundings were infected so far, and control measures are underway.