Jaundice outbreak hits several areas of Shopian

Shopian, Oct 1: An outbreak of jaundice has been reported in several areas of south Kashmir’s Shopian district, with health authorities attributing the cause to contaminated water sources.
The affected areas include Pahnoo, Trenz, Turkawangam, Sedow, Pehlipora, and parts of Shopian town, where dozens of cases have surfaced over the past few days. Locals said many patients were suffering from fever, fatigue, and yellowing of eyes, prompting concerns about the spread of the disease.
Doctors confirmed that contaminated drinking water was the primary reason behind the outbreak. A senior health official said samples from local water supply schemes were being tested to identify the source of contamination. “Jaundice is largely waterborne, and preliminary reports suggest that sewage mixing with drinking water pipelines is the cause. Investigations are underway to pinpoint the exact locations of contamination,” the official said.
The Health Department has issued an advisory urging people to boil water before drinking, maintain hygiene, and immediately seek medical attention in case of symptoms such as nausea, fever, or jaundice-related fatigue. “We appeal to the public to avoid untreated water and ensure safe practices. Preventive steps can help contain the spread,” the advisory read.
Locals in Shopian expressed anger at what they described as poor monitoring by the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department. “We have been complaining about leaking pipelines and unsanitary conditions near water sources for months, but nobody paid attention. Now people are falling sick,” a villager of Turkawangam said.
Doctors at the District Hospital Shopian said that while most cases reported so far were manageable, the risk of further spread remained unless the water supply system was thoroughly checked and disinfected. “Jaundice is treatable but can become severe if ignored. Early medical attention is essential,” one doctor said.
The outbreak has triggered concern among parents as schools in the affected areas remain open, and children are considered highly vulnerable to waterborne infections. Civil society groups have appealed to authorities to provide clean drinking water through tankers until the pipelines are sanitised.
Officials said teams from the health and PHE departments had been dispatched to the affected villages to disinfect water sources and repair faulty supply lines. Awareness drives are also being launched in collaboration with local health workers to guide people on prevention. [KNT]