Minor dies, many infected after suspected ‘Hepatitis Outbreak’ in Kulgam

Srinagar : A six-year-old girl died while several others got infected due to an outbreak of suspected Hepatitis in Yaripora village of southern Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Friday, officials said.
An official said that in Turka Tachloo village of Yaripora, a suspected Hepatitis outbreak claimed the life of the minor girl, who was admitted at JVC hospital in Srinagar while over a dozen have symptoms of the infection.
The deceased has been identified as s-ix-year-old Miyra Gulzar from Turka Tachloo. “The infection has probably spread due to unsafe drinking water supply in the village,” he said.
The medical team from Yaripora block of Kulgam immediately started a survey in the village, the official said, adding that the infected persons are mostly minors. “Besides health team, the water analysts from the Jal Shakti department also reached the village and took samples of the drinking water supply.”
He said a minor boy identified as Afnan Altaf, who is admitted at JVC Srinagar hospital is said to be critical, while a minor girl identified as Deeba Waseem has also been shifted to SKIMS Soura for check-up.
Block Medical Officer (BMO) Yaripora, Nighat Nasreen said, “We have collected 92 samples from the village today, while a minor girl has died due to the Hepatitis infection at JVC Srinagar.” She said five children are under observation