Shopian, Feb 05 : In view of sporadic cases of jaundice from various villages in southern district of Shopian, authorities have constituted different health teams for screening of the population against water borne infections.
The teams have also been instructed to raise awareness among people about various water borne diseases and educate them for adopting safe drinking practices.
Block Medical Officer Shopian, Dr Mohammed Yusuf Naikoo, informed Rising Kashmir that they have constituted five teams for screening and medical education of the people.
He said that their teams have been screening people in the affected areas for the past three days.
“We have collected samples from the affected areas,” he said, adding that they will communicate the number of jaundice patients once they process the samples and compile the list.
“All the cases reported so far were water borne infections,” he said, adding that they advise people through a door to door campaign for using boiled water and ensuring hand hygiene.
Showket Ahmad, a resident of Pahnoo village of Shopian, informed Rising Kashmir that the jaundice outbreak has affected Pahnoo, Woterpora, Phelipora, Pargochi and Trenz.
He added that these villages are supplied unfiltered water through a common supply line which loads water from Rambiara near Chowgam. “The water is contaminated” he said.
Showket said that most cases have been reported from Pahnoo.
“On Saturday screening by a medical team identified 13 suspected cases from our village,” he said, adding that 10 cases were already identified at different health facilities.
“Some of them were referred to SMHS, Srinagar,” he said, adding that there are many symptomatic cases in the village.
Sameer Ahmad, a resident of Trenz, informed that around 30 cases have been identified from Trenz and Nadandar.
“The medical teams have been screening for the past couple of days and they have collected many samples,” he said, adding that the reports are yet to be received.
Abdul Rashid, Executive Engineer Shopian for Jal Shakti Department, told Rising Kashmir that the water supplied to Pahnoo and adjoining villages is properly treated.
“The water is disinfected after being properly chlorinated,” he said.
He also said that a rapid sand filtration plant under JJM is being constructed at the site and will soon be completed.
