Seven Baiga children die in MP outbreak as faith healing complicates response

At least seven children from the Baiga tribal community in Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat district have died and around 100 have fallen ill over the past 45 days due to an outbreak of monsoon-related diseases, officials said. The affected children, aged between one and 13 years, have shown symptoms including high fever, stomach infections, and skin rashes.

The cases have been reported from five remote villages—Bondari, Adori, Machhurda, Korka, and Kundekasa—in Baihar tehsil, about 85 km from the district hospital. Authorities said they became aware of the outbreak only after three deaths had already occurred, with the first reported on June 26 in Bondari.

Currently, 24 children are undergoing treatment at district and civil hospitals, while 76 have recovered, according to Additional Collector Abhishek Saraf. Blood samples have been sent to ICMR labs in Kolkata and Pune to identify the exact cause, and a team from Jabalpur's Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College is also investigating.

Special health camps have been set up, and door-to-door screenings are being conducted by ASHA and ANM workers. Medical officers have been assigned to each village to decide on hospital admissions. Officials have also been tasked with surveying water sources and improving hygiene, including cleaning water bodies.

However, officials highlighted significant challenges in reaching the scattered hilltop settlements and convincing families to accept modern treatment. The Baiga, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group, often rely on faith healers and ritualistic practices. Many families initially refused medicines or hospital visits. Officials said they have now enlisted the help of spiritual leaders to build trust.

In one instance, a father in Bondari who lost two children said he approached both doctors and faith healers, but no medical help was available nearby. He said he resorted to ritualistic healing himself when his entire family fell ill. Officials also reported instances of animal sacrifice being performed in a village to ward off the outbreak.

Ambulances have been deployed in some villages for emergency transfers, and meetings are being held with village heads to encourage treatment. Authorities said the situation is gradually improving.