Hepatitis A outbreak in Hardukathul Walurhama in Pahalgam village, CMO Anantnag requests Executive Enginear Jal Shakti PHE bijbehara to look into the Matter

Sameer Ahmad

Anantnag: The outbreak of hepatitis A has created a scare in Hardukathul Walurhama in Pahalgam area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district with locals blaming Jal Shakti department for failing to provide them with potable drinking water.

Locals expressed that they are worried, as hepatitis A has mostly affected children here and so far over one dozen children have fallen  ill.

They said that as there is no potable water facility and by consuming the contaminated water, several people have contracted the water-borne diseases like hepatitis A.

They alleged that they are forced to consume water of a rivulet in which disposable items were thrown and it gives rise to such diseases.

The villagers appealed to the deputy commissioner Anantnag and other authorities to take immediate steps so that hepatitis won’t spread further in the area and also provide them with potable water so that such situations won’t arise in future.

However Arising state received a copy from sources in which Chief Medical officer Anantnag requested to the Executive Enginear PHE jal Shakti to look into the matter and do needful for the interest of general public.

The letter reads that An outbreak of water borne disease as hepatitis A was observed in the form of jaundice in the general public. The disease was investigated epidemiologically by rapid response teams at both block and district level, by taking water and blood samples from the area. it was found that the water supply of the area is contaminated, not fit for drinking and cooking purposes and blood samples were positive for hepatitis A. Letter reads.

Added that Necessary measures like chlorination of the water, covering of uncovered water resources, replacing of rusted pipelining and removal of human and animal wastes near water sources are the mandatory steps to avoid any untoward in future, reads letter.