NVI Correspondent
Jammu, Jan 18 (NVI):State Health Department teams are conducting extensive door-to-door surveillance in Rajouri’s Badhal village following an unexplained illness that has claimed 16 lives and affected 38 others since December 2024.
Despite investigations by medical experts from PGIMER Chandigarh, the National Institute of Virology, and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the cause of the illness remains unidentified.
Local officials, including Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Kotranka and Block Medical Officer (BMO) Kotranka, have assured the public that there is no need to panic. “We have been monitoring the situation since December, and health teams are actively visiting homes for surveillance,” said ADC Kotranka. “The doctors’ team is on-site, and surveillance continues daily.”
The illness has been particularly severe among children, with rapid deterioration leading to coma and death despite medical intervention. However, Dr. Ashwani, a pediatric specialist from GMC Rajouri, noted that the cases are primarily confined to three related families, indicating that the disease may not be contagious.
Authorities, including district administration, health department officials, and local police, are on high alert and are working together to investigate the cause of the outbreak and provide support to the affected families. Medical assistance is ongoing in the area, and authorities have urged residents to remain calm as they continue efforts to identify the disease’s origin.(News Vibes of India)
