Unclean drinking water seen as potential source of disease
Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Dec 11: In a sudden spurt, at least eight cases of Hepatitis-A have been reported from Tarka Tachloo village of block Yaripora in South Kashmir’s district Kulgam, out of which two have lost their lives.
Those who have died after testing positive for Hepatitis-A have been identified as Maira Gulzar,4, who died a few days back, and Nihan Altaf, 6, who breathed his last today.
Most of the infected patients, officials said, are undergoing treatment at GMC, Anantnag while the one who died today was shifted to SKIMS Medical College, Bemina after his condition deteriorated.
Officials told Excelsior that the spread of the disease-which most probably has water as its source-seems limited as the samples taken during the screening, going on for the last 3 days, have come negative.
“The cases have been found in only one village and that is Tarka Tachloo where we have so far seen 8 cases out of which 2 have died; the screening is on, and we are taking more and more samples and nearly all samples taken so far have come negative,” Dr Mohammad Rafiq Dhobi, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Kulgam told Excelsior.
He said that following the detection of cases, the necessary measures have been taken as per the standard protocol and the teams from different wings of the Health Department have reached the spot.
The officials of the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir (DHSK) told Excelsior that the teams from Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and Epidemiology have also reached the village and are busy with the necessary screening to ensure that the disease does not spread further and those who might turn out to be positive are isolated well in time.
In this regard, DHSK Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Rather also visited the village along with the expert teams and made the general public aware of the disease and the preventive measures that needed to be taken.
The teams sent for the screening and other measures from DHSK also visited the water filtration plant in the area which is being seen as a potential source of the disease.
Officials said that the Jal Shakti Department has also carried out the chlorination of the water being supplied to the people while adding that the infected are getting the necessary treatment at GMC, Anantnag and are stable as of now.
On the other hand, the resident of the village alleged that the water they receive is not fit for drinking and that the concerned department was playing with the lives of the villagers, particularly children.
“It is the second death in the last 4 days; there are more infected people who are receiving the treatment at GMC, Anantnag; the reason behind it is contaminate drinking water that we get; authorities should take note of it on their level,” said one of the resident Mushtaq Ahmad Malla.
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