A ‘mysterious disease’ has led to the death of 14 people within 30 days after two more deaths were reported on Tuesday in Jammu & Kashmir’s Rajouri region. Out of 14, the deceased include 11 children and 3 adults from three families in the remote Badhaal village of Koteranka Sub-ꩵdivision.
Among the latest victims is a six-year-old girl, Safina Kousar, who passed away at a hospital in Jammu, where seve🔜ral of her siblings had died over the past two days. Two of her other siblings are still fighting for their🥂 lives.
According to a PTI report, nine people belonging to two families died in the village last month. Initially, the deaths were attributed to suspected food poisoning. However, the situation turned grim💖 when most of the villagers complained of similar symptoms, prompting government intervent🉐ion and the rushing of experts from various prestigious health institutions in the country.
The Jammu and Kashmir government has mobilised various health teams to investigate the cause of the𝕴 illness and prevent further deaths. Sampl🐽es are being collected from food, water, and the affected individuals to determine the source of the outbreak.
Health officials have been stationed in the region, with a mobile medical unit and ambulance on standby to address any emerging medical needs. The Health Department, led by Jammu Health Director Dr Rakesh Mangotra and Rajouri’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Manohar Rana, is closely monitoring 🍒the operations.
A team from Pune’s National Institute of Virology, along with experts from PGI Chandigarh, AIIMS Delhi, and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), have already visited the village to suppo🧜rt local investigations.
Dr Ashutosh Gupta, the principal of Government Medical College Hospital in Jammu, suggested that the cause may ☂be a viral infection but cautioned that more studies are needed for a conclusive diagnosis.
Rajouri Deputy Commissioner Abhishek Sharma is overseeing the response efforts, ensuring that health teams are deployed for aggressive contact tracing and sampling. “We are working around the clock to investigate𒁃 the situation and mitigate the spread,” Sharma said.
The district administration has urged residents to cooperate with health teams, providing timely information for contact tracing and💃 further investigation. A district control room has⛦ been set up to assist the public with any health-related concerns.
“We are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our citizens, and we ask for the p𝔉ublic's support during this challenging time,” said an official from the district administration.
(With PTI inputs)
