In Jammu village shaken by 17 deaths, normal life remains restricted, but quarantined residents are symptom-free

All the 17 dead were from three families in the village. Three sisters were the last to be admitted to the Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital in Jammu on January 23 after showing symptoms of fever, uneasiness in breathing and loss of consciousness. They have subsequently recovered and were sent back to Rajouri where their parents were quarantined.

Doctors came to the hypothesis that the illness was caused by organophosphates after finding that atropine injections, which are used to treat toxicity from such chemicals, had a positive impact on patients.

Apart from those who have recovered, those who were quarantine are also all “physically fit”, a senior doctor at GMC Rajouri said. He said all the the people quarantined were close contacts and family members of those who died or had symptoms of the illness. “From our side, they all are now physically fit and none of them has any symptom of the unknown disease,” the doctor said.

However, they are yet to be sent back home, and this will be done only after the administration takes a decision on the matter, he said.

Meanwhile, sources said the administration is waiting for SOPs from the team of doctors from AIIMS Delhi and PGIMER Chandigarh, who had visited Baddal and collected samples from there on Sunday. These are SOPs to be followed when sending quarantined residents back to Baddal village.

Apart from the 370 being quarantined, there are 700 Baddal residents living in a locked down part of the village. The administration has sealed their existing ration stores and taken their samples for lab testing, a source said, adding that they have been provided with fresh ration. These families will be allowed to consume their existing ration only if their samples are tested okay, the source said.

Meanwhile, teams from the animal and sheep husbandry department have been deployed to provide fodder and take care of the animals and livestock left behind by those quarantined at Rajouri.