[stextbox id=”info”]While the Swine Flu threat, that grabbed a lot of media attention, seems to be under control in the J&K, the state is oblivious to a home grown threat that has already devoured 15 lives in Rajouri district. SHAFIQ MIR reports.[/stextbox]
The mysterious fever that started from Nowshehra Tehsil in Rajouri a fortnight ago district is spreading to other areas of the border district Rajouri.
Fifteen people have already died due to the fever in Nowshehra and Sunderbani tehsils Rajouri district over the past fortnight. The latest victim was Surinder Devi (37) wife of Pashori Lal of village Seeri in Sunderbani tehsil. The dead comprise of males and females across all age groups.
“At least 80 patients complaining of the fever are admitted in various hospitals of the district apart from nearly a dozen patients admitted in Government Medical Hospital Jammu,” said Dr Vaid Parkash Sharma Chief Medical Officer Rajouri adding that the virus has also been reported from some villages of neighbouring district Reasi.
However, the authorities are still unable to find the causes of this fever. Dr Sharma said the water and blood samples have already been sent to various leading labs of the country.
All those who died, complained of fever for few days and were treated by the doctors accordingly. The mysterious fever could not be controlled by the super specialist doctors at the Government Medical College Jammu. Without reaching to any final conclusion on the disease, the doctors have so far given it a name ‘Air Burn’. Dr. Sharma who also calls it Air Burn says that they have not reached any conclusion so far. While the mystery still continues, the state health minister Sham Lal says that the problem erupted due to use of contaminated water by people in the area. “we have received lab opinion in this regard. There is nothing to worry and the virus has been controlled,” Lal said.
Initially the patients complaining of the mysterious fever were reported from six villages of Nowshehra tehsil, Bhawani, Nonyaal, Jhanger, Chowki, Langer and Ganya where at least eight people of different age groups had died. Dr Sahrma said that at least eight people have died in the hospitals. Some deaths have also taken place in the homes. After Nowshehra, the virus has reached to Kalakote, and Sunderbani tehsils, while some villages of the neighbouring district Reasi are also in the grip of this mysterious fever.
At least 80 patients with similar complaints are still admitted in various hospitals in Sunderbani, Kalkote , Nowshehra and GMC Jammu.
The state health department woke up to the threat only after the media reports on September 17.
As the viral infection was first reported from villages located along LoC and sources say it is possible that the virus may have consumed some lives across LoC too.However, the impact of the impact of the virus could not be verified.
