An outbreak that affected the Badhaal village in Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir led to 17 deaths, with over 38 people affected since December 2024.

It has led to a multi-sectoral response by the State and Union governments to curb the outbreak.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by the State police and supported by experts from the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, PGIMER Chandigarh, AIIMS, New Delhi, and National Centres for Disease Control (NCDC), New Delhi was formed to investigate the possible causes. This was supplemented by an inter-ministerial team of experts from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, and the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

Steps undertaken to control the outbreak -

• Active door-to-door surveillance has been carried out to screen residents for similar symptoms of high fever, body ache, vomiting, and unconsciousness, with 230 residents quarantined.

• Meanwhile, the police had also disallowed residents from drawing water from nearby wells and community feasting.

• Food is being supplied by the government under strict supervision.

It seems to have been caused by an as-yet unidentified toxin. However, based on the symptoms, a neurotoxin is suspected after tests have turned out to be negative for all viruses, bacteria, or other pathogens.

The search for the cause continues as rising deaths have led to the cancellation of leaves for healthcare staff in the district.