No evidence of viral, bacterial, or fungal infection: CS Dulloo

Srinagar, Jan 16: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Thursday said that extensive investigations into the recent deaths in Rajouri have ruled out viral, bacterial, or fungal infections.
Speaking to reporters, Dulloo said that extensive investigations and expert reviews are ongoing, and there is no evidence suggesting a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection.
He said the issue is being thoroughly examined and highlighted the possibility of a criminal angle.
Speaking on the steps taken by the government, Dulloo said that the health department has been proactive since the first incident in December.
“Teams from reputed institutions like PGI, NZDC, and the National Institute of Virology were dispatched to Rajouri. They collected samples and conducted tests while camping on-site. Rapid response teams were also deployed,” he added.
He further said that after the second and third incidents, more samples were collected, and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) was involved in the investigation.
While the teams are still working, the reports so far indicate that this is neither a viral, bacterial, nor fungal infection. The investigation is ongoing to determine the cause, Duloo said.
Dulloo also said that the police have also constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to explore a possible criminal angle. “It is being examined whether there was contamination in the food, poisoning, or any other reason behind the illnesses. Questions arise because people from three separate houses who ate the same food fell ill, which points to a possibility beyond health issues,” he added.
He assured that there is no health emergency in the area and expressed hope for a resolution soon.