Diplomat Correspondent
Rajouri, DD, In a significant public health initiative, health authorities in Rajouri have completed door-to-door screenings of 9,000 to 10,000 homes in response to a mysterious illness that has claimed 17 lives and affected 38 individuals since December 2024.
The disease remains unidentified, but health officials are working around the clock to trace its origins.
Dr. M L Raina, Chief Medical Officer of Rajouri, provided an update on the ongoing investigation, stating that health teams have been actively conducting both active and passive surveillance across the district. “We have screened over 1,600 to 1,700 homes in detail, and our door-to-door screenings have covered nearly 9,000 to 10,000 houses,” Dr. Raina confirmed. “Our teams, along with mobile medical units and lab systems, are working tirelessly to gather data and perform tests.”
Despite the growing concern, Dr. Raina reassured the public that there is no immediate need to declare a public health emergency. Test results for viral and vector-borne diseases have all returned negative, which suggests that there is no immediate widespread threat.
Local resident Surjeet Singh Thakur praised the efforts of the health, police, and civil administrations in addressing the crisis. “While the cause of the deaths is still unclear, we have ruled out bacterial or viral infections,” Thakur said. “We are collecting samples of food, water, and daily use products for analysis, and there are suspicions that poisoning may be a factor.”
To further investigate the situation, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has ordered the formation of an inter-ministerial team led by the Ministry of Home Affairs to look into the unexplained deaths. Additionally, the Indian Army has been deployed to provide essential supplies, including food, water, and shelter, to the affected communities.
Authorities are continuing their investigations, with regular updates expected as they work to uncover the root cause of the deaths. (DD)