Diarrhoea outbreak in Anantnag
Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, July 21: Following the diarrhoea outbreak in Srigufwara, affecting nearly 100 people of different age groups, the authorities today said that six samples have been collected and sent to the District Public Health Laboratory (DPHL) in Anantnag for investigation.
According to the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir (DHSK), the samples taken from the affected area include three water samples and three stool samples, all sent to DPHL Anantnag for investigation, the reports of which are still awaited.
It is to be noted here that the cases were reported from the village of Trail in Anantnag district’s Srigufwara, which falls under the Medical Block Sallar, during the night of July 19 and 20.
This prompted the authorities to take preventive measures, including the deployment of ambulances and medical staff, with a special focus on identifying the source of infection.
As soon as the cases started to pour in, officials said that a 50-member team of doctors and paramedics was deployed for timely intervention, while inter-block health facilities were also alerted and put on standby.
DHSK stated that a team of health officials, directed by Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad Rather, Director of Health Services, Kashmir, also visited the affected village following reports of a gastroenteritis outbreak on July 19.
The team, comprising Dr. Samina Gul, SSO, IDSP, Dr. Afshan Abdullah, State Epidemiologist, IDSP, and the District Rapid Response Team led by Dr. M. Y. Zagoo, CMO Anantnag, and Block Medical Officer, Sallar, Dr. Zahoor, reached the village and conducted a thorough investigation, including sampling and measures to control the outbreak.
According to official details, the team found 89 cases of mild to moderate gastroenteritis by July 20, with no deaths reported so far. As part of identifying the source of infection, the team also collected six samples from the affected village.
Earlier, officials informed Excelsior that since July 19, nearly 100 cases of diarrhoea were reported from the Trail village as well as a few nearby areas, with only 15 still undergoing treatment.
To control the outbreak, DHSK said, the team conducted IEC activities and public announcements in the affected area, advising villagers to consume boiled water.
“ORS packets were also distributed, particularly among the affected cases. The visiting team carried out door-to-door visits to identify new cases,” DHSK said.
The DHSK further informed that while the source of infection is still unknown, local teams have been instructed to maintain close vigilance and report any new developments.
“The situation is under control, and the health department is closely monitoring the situation; once the reports of the samples taken are with us, we will be further able to fine tune the measures,” they said.
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