Badhaal village tragedy: Death toll risen to 8 due to highly infectious pathogen(s)

GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL

SHYAM SOOD

* 7 children below 14 years age among 8 died.

*DC Rajouri Abhishek Sharma visited Koteranka to assess ground situation.

*ICMR team with BSL-3 Mobile Lab examined samples to investigate cause of deaths.

RAJOURI DEC 18:-The death toll has risen to eight from Badhaal area due to highly infectious pathogens (organisms that cause disease in humans) with one more 12-years-old boy namely Ishfaq died on way to a hospital in Chandigarh today on Wednesday.
On the directions of Directorate of Health Services Government of India New Delhi, a team of experts from different premier medical institutions, including a team from Indian Council of Medical Research along with Mobile Laboratory Vehicle camping at Koteranka to investigate the cases and deaths in Badhaal.
The deaths include 7 minor children and a man.
Different teams, including ICMR team, have collected samples of food items, medicines taken by the deceased, drinking water, food items consumed by those who died (samples preserved), other samples and examined in the Mobile Laboratory.
On Wednesday, Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Abhishek Sharma visited Koteraka to assess the ground situation in Badhal village and also interacted with the team members of accompanying a Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) Mobile Laboratory, and experts of central team headed by Dr Raghvendra A Honnakamble, Assistant Director National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Other expert of the central team include Dr. Kapil Goel, A.P, Epidemiology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, Dr. Suresh Kumar, Assistant Professor (Pediatrics), PGIMER, Chandigarh.
The BSL-3 Mobile Laboratory is equipped to handle outbreaks of highly infectious pathogens.
It plays a crucial role in early detection, rapid investigation, and the timely containment of diseases, ensuring the safety of the population during such health emergencies.
Abhishek Sharma interacted with the team of experts, providing them with the necessary assistance and resources to ensure they could work comfortably and efficiently.
He assured the team of full administrative support to facilitate their investigation and help identify the cause of the unknown illness.
“The administration is committed to ensuring a thorough investigation and providing immediate medical aid to prevent further loss of lives,” said Abhishek Sharma.
He directed health officials to intensify surveillance in the affected area and adjoining villages while providing regular updates to the district administration and central team.
The three children of Mohd Rafiq, resident of Badhal area developed complications on December 12 at home.
Six years old Nazia Akhter died at home while her brothers Ishtiaq (10) and Ishfaq (12) were admitted in Associated Hospital GMC (AH GMC) Rajouri from where both were referred to SMGS Hospital Jammu.
Ishtiaq died on way to Jammu. Due to his critical condition Ishfaq was referred to PGIMER Chandigarh on Wednesday but died before he could be admitted in the hospital.
On December 8, 6 members of Fazal Hussain’s family– including four minor children, wife and Fazal Hussain–developed complications and later our children and Fazal Hussain died while wife Shamim is under treatment in GMC Jammu.
At present 1 -year old boy, three siblings ( two sisters & brother, all minor) and a 38 years-old man from Badhal and adjoining areas are under treatment in AH GMC Rajouri.