Tasaduq Hussain
Kupwara, May 22: Stating that the situation is closely being monitored, health authorities in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district Monday said that all the 14 Measles virus-positive patients at Farkin area have recovered and tested negative.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Measles is a highly contagious, serious disease caused by a virus.
The virus infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body. Measles is a human disease and is not known to occur in animals. Measles vaccination resulted in a 73% drop in measles deaths between 2000 and 2018 worldwide, as per WHO.
Block Medical Officer Kralpora Dr. Javaid Iqbal Lone said that the situation is under control and is being monitored regularly. “All the 14 positive cases have tested negative. Medical teams remain deputed regularly in Farkin village,” he said.
He said that medical teams from both Srinagar and Kupwara visited the village to ascertain the actual situation.
The BMO said that all the 14 virus patients isolated earlier have recovered. “Their isolation period has come to an end after they tested negative,” he said.
He also informed that samples were collected from the village including the positive patients. “All the sample reports have returned negative.”
Notably, on May 12 earlier this month, it was reported about the measles virus outbreak in Farkin village. Initially, a total of 5 positive cases were detected and isolated. Following this they were isolated and necessary measures were taken by the medical authorities.
On May 15, the number of cases had gone to 14 in the village following which a team of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) also visited the area.
Medical teams, as per officials, were deputed to the area to monitor the situation regularly. The nearest medical health center was also operating round the clock to be available for the local population.
Meanwhile, a senior health official said that the first sign of measles is usually a high fever. “After the exposure to the virus, runny nose, cough, red and watery eyes, and small white spots inside the cheeks develop,” he said.
The official said that it may have spread from one individual in the village to others. As of now, he said that the situation is under control and things are being looked at very closely to respond if anything arises.
