Mysterious disease kills 6 children in Ramnagar, authorities clueless

Locals claim 12 deaths; teams deputed after one week’s delay

JAMMU: A mysterious illness has claimed lives of at least six children in Ramnagar town of Udhampur district, with several others undergoing treatment in various hospitals, even as the reports put the number of deaths to as high as twelve within the 25-30 kilometers of the area in past eight-ten days.
The health authorities in district Udhampur have been put on high alert and two health teams have been dispatched to the area for investigation of the cause of the deaths.
The government has preliminarily attributed the deaths to febrile illness—the sudden fever or elevation in body temperature, but has not confirmed the number of deaths.
Official sources said that panic gripped Ramnagar tehsil after six children, aged from 1 to 6 years, died of a mysterious disease in some villages in the town in past 8-10 days.
They confirmed that two children died in Ramnagar hospital where they were admitted for treatment, while as many died in PGI, Chandigarh and one each in DMC and CMC hospitals at Ludhiana.
They added that four others children are currently under treatment in Ramnagar hospital.
However, residents of the area claimed that so far twelve children have died of this disease.
They said that children were rushed to the GMC hospital in Jammu, Narayana hospital at Katra and even outside the state by the parents after they complained of cough and giddiness.
What is even more astonishing is the revelation that the deaths have started occurring in the area around three weeks ago, but were not taken cognisance of by the authorities who passed the deaths as one-off.
It was only after the death toll increased and residents of the area raised hue and cry that the health department woke up from the slumber.
The lackadaisical approach of the Department can be gauged from the letter forwarded to Block Development Officer, Ramnagar by the Chief Medical Officer, Udhampur on Thursday, seeking explanation for delay to ascertain the cause of the deaths.
The CMO, taking the cognisance of the issue, constituted a three-member Rapid Response Team of doctors for investigation.
“In reference to SSO Jammu E mail dated 8.1.2020 regarding increase in number of children deaths in Ramnagar .In this regard a detailed report was to be submitted by you to this office which is still pending, therefore a team of Rapid Response Team members from district is hereby deputed to Block Ramnagar so that investigation can be done for the cause of deaths ,” reads the letter written by the CMO.
Official sources said that the District Rapid Response Team of Health Department comprising of Dr Mohd Yaseen, Dr Deepak Koul and Dr Alok Raina will go to the villages in Ramnagar and take samples of water and other food material to investigate the cause of deaths.
District Development Commissioner Udhampur Piyush Singla when contacted by The News Now said that he has directed SE PHE to lift samples of drinking water for laboratory testing and to ensure the safe drinking water is provided to the public.
He said that a team of doctors have been constituted to ascertain the cause of deaths.
The district administration has preliminarily blamed the deaths on febrile illness.
“Following reports of febrile illness among children in some villages of block Ramnagar, health authorities have deputed Block Level Heath Team and District Rapid Response Team to investigate the matter,” an official spokesman said.
The matter has also been taken up with the higher authorities and in this connection Division level team is also visiting these villages, he said.
Meanwhile, the District Health Authorities have appealed to the general public not to panic and consult doctors in nearby health institutions if there is any case having symptoms of fever, vomiting and low urine passage.