89 cases reported; Secy Health monitors situation
Public urged to follow SOPs
Srinagar, July 21: In response to a gastroenteritis outbreak in Trail village, Block Sallar, South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, a team of health officials visited the affected area, affirming that the situation is under control.
The team, including Dr.SaminaGul, SSO, IDSP; Dr.Afshan Abdullah, State Epidemiologist, IDSP; and the District Rapid Response Team led by Dr. M.Y. Zagoo, CMO Anantnag, and Block Medical Officer SallerDr.Zahoor, conducted a thorough investigation.
DrMir Mushtaq, spokesperson for DHSK, reported 89 cases of mild to moderate gastroenteritis as of July 20, 2024, with no deaths. The Health Department has been managing the outbreak for the past two days. Of the 180 people with symptoms, 121 required short-stay admission; 117 have been discharged, and only four remain admitted.
“Three water samples and three stool samples have been sent to DPHL Anantnag for investigation, and their reports are awaited,” he said.
Local teams have been instructed to maintain close vigilance and report any new developments. The situation is under control, and the health department is closely monitoring it.
On Sunday, Secretary Health and Medical Education, Dr. Syed AbidRasheed Shah, directed Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr.Mushtaq Ahmad Rather, to visit the gastroenteritis-affected villages of Health Block Sallar. He was accompanied by the Chief Medical Officer, Anantnag, and BMO Sallar. Dr. Rather expressed satisfaction with the outbreak’s management.
Extensive IEC activities, including regular door-to-door campaigns, have been undertaken to raise awareness of SOPs in the affected villages. Chlorination of water sources has been done, and water samples collected to determine the outbreak’s cause.
Officials have covered 400 households through door-to-door campaigns and distributed over 2000 units of ORS.
Dr. Rather commended the medical staff for their outstanding efforts in controlling the situation and urged the public to follow the SOPs. He emphasized the importance of using only boiled water to prevent further cases.
Secretary Health and Medical Education is personally monitoring the situation and remains in constant contact with the health administration regarding the outbreak.
Gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach and intestines, typically causes vomiting and diarrhea. While usually not serious in healthy individuals, it can sometimes lead to dehydration or severe symptoms.
