Bhubaneswar, Dec 24 (IANS): Twenty-four new cases of jaundice were confirmed Wednesday in Odisha's Sambalpur town, pushing the total number of the waterborne disease in this district headquarters town to 1,547 since May.

"Twenty-four new people were found suffering from jaundice Tuesday. The death toll due to the disease, however, remained unchanged at 17," chief district medical officer J.K. Samantaray told IANS.

"Since jaundice virus takes several days for incubation, it may take some more days to control the situation fully," he said.

A poor drainage system and damaged water supply pipelines appeared to be the main reason behind the jaundice outbreak and spread of the disease in the town, having a population of nearly two lakh.

Due to leakage in the rusty water supply pipelines, the drain water seeped through and contaminated the water meant for drinking.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and chief secretary Gokul Chandra Pati would visit Sambalpur town later in the day to take stock of the situation which continued to be alarming.