No Evidence of Viral or Bacterial Infection in 13 Fatalities in Rajouri: Health Minister

Jammu, Jan 15 (NationPress) The health and medical education minister of J&K, Sakina Itoo, stated on Wednesday that investigations show that no viral or bacterial infection has led to the deaths of 13 individuals in the Rajouri district over the past month. However, she emphasized that the true cause of these fatalities is currently under police examination.

In a notable announcement, Sakina Itoo informed reporters that extensive testing conducted at various esteemed laboratories and hospitals nationwide has confirmed that no infections were responsible for the 13 deaths that occurred in Badhaal village, located in the Kotranka sub-division of Rajouri district.

“The deaths of over a dozen people from three families in a remote border village have not been attributed to any unknown disease, as tests performed both within and outside J&K returned negative results. The fatalities, which began on December 7 of the previous year, have raised significant concerns, leading the police and district administration to initiate a prompt investigation to uncover the truth,” the minister declared.

Among the deceased, there were 13 individuals, including 11 children, in Badhaal village (eight in December and five this month).

Following reports of five deaths, the health department mobilized its resources and conducted screenings for approximately 3,500 villagers.

“Samples were collected and sent for testing to various laboratories both within and outside Jammu and Kashmir. When three more individuals died shortly afterward, the department sought assistance from leading health institutions in the country. Their teams arrived and conducted a thorough investigation,” Sakina Itoo stated.

“After more than 40 days without fatalities, the deaths resumed, indicating that if a disease were responsible, it would have spread rapidly and not remained confined to just three closely related families living in close proximity,” she continued.

“All test results from both within and outside Jammu and Kashmir, including those from ICMR-NITVAR in Pune, NCDC in Delhi, DRDE in Gwalior, and the microbiology department at PGI Chandigarh, have returned negative. This also applies to tests of water and other food items. The health department has been unable to identify any disease, virus, or bacterial infection as the cause of these deaths,” she elaborated.

“The actual cause of these fatalities is under investigation. The police and district administration are looking into the unfortunate deaths of the 13 individuals, who were otherwise healthy and showed no signs of illness or infection,” she added.

When questioned about reports from health experts that certain neurotoxins were found in samples from some of the deceased, Sakina Itoo mentioned that conclusions would only be drawn after the inquiry is completed. “I am in contact with the district development commissioner and have discussed the situation with the SSP. A swift investigation is necessary to reveal the truth. We are awaiting additional test results, including from the Forensic Sciences Laboratory (FSL), which has taken longer, but it is evident that the deaths were not due to any disease or virus,” she asserted.

The community in Badhaal village and surrounding areas has been gripped by panic for over a month following the onset of these deaths. Victims were admitted to various hospitals presenting with high fever, excessive sweating, episodes of unconsciousness, and ultimately death. This series of incidents has led to the label of ‘mysterious deaths’ as attending physicians remained uncertain about the pathogen responsible for these fatalities, treating victims symptomatically until their demise.