More than 200 individuals who came into contact with the affected families of the 17 victims of a mysterious illness in Rajouri have been quarantined as a precaution. On Thursday, it was reported that four people, including three sisters, had been hospitalized, with three of them airlifted to a hospital in Jammu.
Health experts confirmed that the primary cause of death in Budhal village was linked to brain and nervous system damage. National Conference (NC) leader and local MLA Javaid Iqbal Choudhary has called for the declaration of a medical emergency to curb the spread of the mysterious illness and save lives.
The affected individuals have been moved to a quarantine center established in the nursing college and GMC hospital in Rajouri. The new quarantine facility, set up on Wednesday, houses close relatives of the deceased, as well as individuals who had contact with the families, including those who took children to the hospital or participated in funerals.
After extensive investigation, experts have identified cadmium toxin as the cause of the mysterious illness that has claimed at least 17 lives in Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir. The deaths had triggered widespread fear and concern in Badhaal village, prompting the formation of a central team to investigate the situation. Initially, doctors had ruled out viruses or bacteria, but Union Minister Jitendra Singh confirmed the findings, stating that cadmium was detected in the victims’ bodies during tests at the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow. He emphasized that no viral, bacterial, or infectious agents were found in the samples. The exact source of the cadmium remains under investigation.
Cadmium is a toxic metal that can lead to serious health issues if ingested or inhaled. It can cause poisoning through contaminated food, water, or polluted air. Last week, health experts had suggested that neurotoxins were responsible for the deaths. The victims showed signs of brain swelling, or edema, which was confirmed by Dr. AS Bhatia, Principal of GMC Rajouri. Tests from top laboratories, including the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the National Institute of Virology in Pune, detected neurotoxins that caused brain damage. Dr. Bhatia mentioned that once brain damage is severe, it cannot be reversed, but the health department continues to closely monitor the situation.
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