Jammu, Dec 14: A specialized team of experts from three leading health institutions has arrived in Jammu to assist in the investigation of the mysterious deaths of seven individuals from two families in a remote village in Rajouri district, as reported by a senior medical official on Saturday.
The deceased include a father and his four children, along with two siblings from another family, who died in two separate incidents in Badhaal village on December 8 and 12. Officials are investigating the possibility of food poisoning as the cause.
“Preliminary findings suggest a viral infection; however, further investigation is necessary to determine the definitive cause of death,” stated Dr. Ashutosh Gupta, Principal of Government Medical College (GMC). He confirmed that experts from the National Institute of Virology in Pune, PGI Chandigarh, and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in Delhi are part of the investigation team.
He indicated that more time is needed to conclude whether the fatalities were due to a virus or toxic substances.
Despite these developments, Dr. Gupta reassured the public that the situation is completely under control and emphasized there is no cause for alarm.
“A collaborative team of experts has been organized to investigate further into the cause of death. There have been no additional reported cases thus far,” he mentioned.
Dr. Gupta also noted that health department teams have been active in the village for the past two days, screening over 1800 residents for symptoms such as fever, body aches, and drowsiness, but none have presented with such symptoms.
“Even in the event of an epidemic, it remains well managed,” he added, urging the community to remain calm.
Furthermore, he reported that a woman who lost her husband and children after attending a wedding is currently receiving treatment in a Jammu hospital and is in stable condition, while two others are being treated at GMC Rajouri.
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