Tragic Death from Hepatitis in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam District
A heartbreaking incident unfolded in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district, where a 13-year-old boy lost his life to a hepatitis infection on Friday. His sibling remains in the hospital, highlighting growing concerns over waterborne diseases in the region.
The tragedy struck in Katrasoo village, where three siblings from the same family fell ill with hepatitis. Officials shared that the children were first rushed to a local hospital before being transferred to District Hospital Kulgam. Two of them— the boy who sadly passed away and his sister— were then moved to Children’s Hospital Bemina in Srinagar. While the girl is now under close observation, the third sibling has made a full recovery.
Kulgam’s Chief Medical Officer, Showkat Hussain, quickly sprang into action. He deployed health teams to the village to curb the spread of the infection. "It’s most likely Hepatitis A or E, which spreads through contaminated water and poor sanitation," Hussain explained. He urged residents not to panic, assuring everyone that the situation is under control.
Hussain’s advice is simple and crucial: always boil water before drinking and practice good hand hygiene to stay safe from hepatitis infection. This comes at a time when recent floods in the Kashmir Valley have worsened the problem. Overflowing streams and rivers have contaminated drinking water sources, including reservoirs and filtration plants, raising the risk of waterborne diseases like hepatitis.
Health experts across the Valley are echoing the same message— boil tap or spring water thoroughly before use. Floods have long been a trigger for such outbreaks in Kashmir. In the past, before vaccines and modern medicine, disasters like these led to hundreds of deaths from cholera and other illnesses, especially in low-lying areas. People even avoided travel and gathered at graveyards to mourn the losses from these epidemics.
Thankfully, things have changed. With advanced medical facilities, primary health centers, and quick response teams, the health department now acts fast to contain waterborne diseases before they turn into major epidemics. In Kulgam, officials are monitoring the area closely to prevent any further spread of hepatitis.
Stay vigilant, folks— boiling water and staying hygienic can go a long way in protecting your family from these preventable infections.
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