Jaundice outbreak in Khansahib, one dies as 8 tests positive

Jaundice outbreak in Khansahib, one dies as 8 tests positive

Screening process going on: Official

Jahangeer Ganaie

Srinagar, Aug 07 (KNO): A Jaundice outbreak has been reported at Riyar area of Khansahib block in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district, where one person has died so far and seven others have tested positive for the disease.

A health official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that so far eight jaundice cases have been reported in the area and among them one person has died while the condition of seven others is stable.

He said that a 10-year-old boy identified as Abid, son of Ab Salam from Riyar village of Khansahib, who was tested positive for jaundice, died two days before following a jaundice outbreak, triggered by the supply of contaminated water.

Dr Mir Mushtaq, Spokesperson of Directorate of Health Services Kashmir (DHSK) told KNO that untiring efforts are being made at Raiyar for curbing jaundice by the surveillance and rapid response teams of block Khansahib.

He said that teams under control of Incharge Medical Officer Raiyar, Dr Ishfaq Ahmad Banday are doing a tremendous job and have screened hundreds of people for detection of raising of serum Bilirubin.

“Simultaneously on the other hand, paediatric patients have been seen by the Pediatrician at SDH, Khansahib and have conducted blood tests at SDH for detecting this disease,” he said.

He added that the screening process is on and thousands of people have been screened so far in this area and the situation is well under control.

He added that 1430 patients have been screened so far, 370 screened by paediatricians, 123 samples taken for investigation of jaundice, 30 patients are under surveillance, 160 samples taken for LFT, 438 samples taken for serum bilirubin, 10 taken for coagulogram were found normal and three water samples were taken by IDSP.

The remote area is located approximately eight kilometres from Block Headquarter and around 26 km from District Headquarter Budgam. The nearest health facility available is the PHC Riyar.

“Situation regarding the intensity of this disease is well under control,” he said.

ASHAs of concerned areas along with health workers have been distributing chlorine tablets and ORS packets among the inhabitants at door steps while field staff are continuously educating the people to take safe drinking water and also demonstrating the steps of hand washing to the people of this area,” Mir Mushtaq said.

“Keeping in view the customs, beliefs of these Tribals, IEC and effective communication skills needs to be communicated for some more days in order to convince the tribal people to maintain and enhance the hygiene & take boiled water,” he added—(KNO)